Welcome to On the Cusp - Alberta’s circular podcast. In this episode, we’re going to talk about compost. With the goal to advance a circular economy, the RCA has been leading a composting project that aims to engage farmers in compost processing on the farm and using that compost to add nutrients back into the soil. This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. In this episode, we’re joined by the RCA’s executive director, Christina Seidel and the RCA’s compost expert, John Paul. 

For more information, visit the RCA website, where you can find the publications created as a result of this project, including photos of Stickland Farms and further information on starting your own on-farm composting operation.

In this segment, the RCA’s executive director, Christina Seidel leads the second half of a discussion with service providers who collect and manage products and packaging for waste management and recycling. The podcast discusses EPR implementation and the question of inclusion of certain types of packaging such as single-use plastics, requirements for recycled content and targets. Panelists include Al Matauro from Cascades, Tony Moucachen from Merlin Plastics, and Peter Hargreave with Policy Integrity Inc.

In this segment, the RCA’s executive director, Christina Seidel leads a discussion with service providers who collect and manage products and packaging for waste management and recycling. The podcast discusses the changes in the service providers’ role that comes with province-wide EPR implementation (including examples from BC and Ontario), the balance of competition with the risk of creating monopolies, the amount of time required to adapt to changes, how to manage existing contracts and designated materials. Panelists include Al Matauro from Cascades, Tony Moucachen from Merlin Plastics, and Peter Hargreave with Policy Integrity Inc.

In this segment, Calgary City Councillor, Peter Demong, leads the second half of a discussion on EPR implementation in BC, its impact on municipalities and possible scenarios in Alberta. The panelists include Andrew Doi, Environmental Planner with Metro Vancouver, Ben Van Nostrand, the Environmental Health Services Team Leader with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, and Cameron Baughen, with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. The conversation covers targets and recovery rates, materials, contracts with service providers, and hazardous and special products.

In this segment, Calgary City Councillor, Peter Demong, leads a discussion on EPR implementation in BC, its impact on municipalities, and possible scenarios in Alberta. MLA Searle Turton and Executive Director of Water and Waste Policy with Alberta Environment and Parks, Heather von Hauff, introduce the webinar. The panelists include Andrew Doi, Environmental Planner with Metro Vancouver, Ben Van Nostrand, the Environmental Health Services Team Leader with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, and Cameron Baughen, with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen discuss potential savings to municipalities, the inclusion of ICI, single-use items, and transition plans.

In this segment the RCA’s executive director, Christina Seidel, leads the second half of a discussion on the implementation of extended producer responsibility in Alberta including how policy can prioritize the waste hierarchy and innovation; how Alberta can transition to EPR and advance outcomes in the future; how municipalities can be involved going forward; and transboundary issues. The panel includes Heather von Hauff, the Executive Director of Water and Waste Policy with Alberta Environment and Parks, Jodi Tomchyshyn London, the president of the RCA, Alda Nicmans with the BC Product Stewardship Council) and Kelsey Morden with the Retail Council of Canada.

In this segment the RCA’s executive director, Christina Seidel, leads a discussion on the implementation of extended producer responsibility in Alberta including harmonization with other provinces; the role of producers; setting targets; performance-based versus outcomes-based regulations; and oversight.

The panel includes Heather von Hauff, the Executive Director of Water and Waste Policy with Alberta Environment and Parks, Jodi Tomchyshyn London, the president of the RCA, Alda Nicmans with the BC Product Stewardship Council and Kelsey Morden with the Retail Council of Canada.

This segment features Alda Nicmans, the Executive Director of the BC Product Stewardship Council. Alda represents BC regional districts and will share the results of a report the Council led on the interactions between local governments and stewardship agencies on program operations. Alda’s presentation will give us an overview of what worked well in the transition to EPR for BC municipalities and improvements they would have liked to have seen.

In this segment, we hear from David Lefebvre, the Director of Public Affairs West for the Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance (CSSA), overseeing media, government and stakeholder relations for Recycle BC in British Columbia and Multi-Material Stewardship Western (MMSW) in Saskatchewan. David will discuss how EPR works from the non-profit organization responsible for the residential program in BC, servicing 1.8 million households and collecting approximately 186,000 tonnes of material from households and depots every year.

In this segment, we hear from Bob McDonald with BC’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Bob has been on the ground for BC’s EPR implementation since day one – first with local government, and then transitioning into the provincial role. Bob will touch on some of the toughest issues in the rollout of EPR and lessons from navigating EPR implementation.