Photo Credit: Matthew Sylvestre
On Friday, June 19, AWARE’s Zero Waste Heroes (ZWHs) supported Whistler Blackcomb with something a little different. While the ZWH program typically provides waste management and education at events, this time we were on the mountain for Whistler Blackcomb’s bi-annual staff and volunteer clean-up.
The goal of the event was to remove debris that had accumulated over the winter in the Creekside area of Whistler Mountain. Not only does this help create a more enjoyable experience for summer hikers and bikers, but it also plays an important role in protecting local ecosystems and the wildlife that calls the mountain home.
Whistler Blackcomb wanted to go beyond simply cleaning up the mountain and partnered with AWARE to provide waste management support throughout the event. Together, we developed a tailored approach that included a Zero Waste Station where staff and volunteers could sort harder-to-recycle items and receive guidance on the correct recycling and disposal streams. This helped maximize diversion from landfill while reducing contamination across the different waste streams. AWARE provided collection facilities for the following waste streams:
- Compost
- Mixed containers
- Flexible plastics
- Paper and cardboard
- Refundable beverage containers
- Landfill
Whistler Blackcomb also provided a mega-bag to collect metal, glass, wood, electronics and plastics to be recycled to Blue Planet. Items commonly collected included bamboo posts alongside bottles and cans.
Whistler Blackcomb has a target to divert 90% of waste from landfill and is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Integrating responsible waste management into initiatives like the mountain clean-up is a great example of how environmental stewardship extends beyond simply collecting litter. Proper waste sorting and recycling also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the mountain clean-up was a fantastic day, with plenty of sunshine and over 50 staff and volunteers present. We were proud to support Whistler Blackcomb in protecting the mountain’s ecosystems while ensuring the event itself generated as little waste as possible.
