What On EARTH Can We Do?

This season, we’ve talked about rescuing surplus food, redistributing it to communities, and even turning it into clean energy. But what about the scraps, spoiled produce, bones, peels, and leftovers that can’t be saved?

In this episode, Bri sits down with Brian Wonnacott, superintendent at AltRoot, a composting facility in Westlock that transforms organic waste into a valuable resource for local farms. Brian breaks down how industrial composting works, why microbes are the real stars of the show, and how composting helps reduce methane emissions, support regenerative agriculture, and build a truly circular local economy.

Resources

• AltRoot’s End-to-End Tracability tool
• How to compost at home

About the Podcast

The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

What if every community could rescue its food waste — and feed its neighbours at the same time?

In Lacombe, Alberta, Echo Food Rescue is proving it’s possible. Since 2020, this volunteer-driven program has saved nearly one million pounds of food from the landfill, redirecting it to farms and families across their community.

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Sturgeon, program coordinator at Echo Food Rescue, to talk about how the initiative began, what it takes to keep it running, and the powerful role community collaboration plays in fighting food waste. 

Learn more about Echo Food Rescue: https://www.echofoodrescue.com/

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The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

Food waste isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s an economic one. In this episode, we sit down with Esther Cohn from Flash Food, a Canadian-founded tech company that rescues groceries destined for landfill and offers them to shoppers at a discount.

Discover how Flash Food is making sustainable shopping simple, saving families money, helping grocers cut waste, and preventing over 150 million pounds of food from ending up in landfills. We’ll talk about how the idea came to life, how the app works, and why making sustainability affordable might be the key to lasting change.

Listen to learn:

• How Flash Food connects shoppers with discounted groceries nearing their best-before date
• The environmental and economic impact of rescuing food waste
• Why accessibility and affordability are essential to sustainability
• How changing our mindset about “waste” can help us all make a difference

Download the Flash Food app and start saving money and food today

https://flashfood.com/?showgettheapp=true

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The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

By transforming leftover food into low-emission energy, Eco Growth Environmental is helping businesses heat water, power equipment, and cut food waste in landfills — all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode, we explore how their made-in-Alberta technology works, the impact it’s having, and where it could take us next.

What’s in this episode:

• 03:36 - How Eco Growth Environmental’s system transforms food waste into a usable energy source
• 07:57 - Why methane reduction is critical to achieving net-zero goals
• 10:27 - The environmental and economic benefits of waste-to-energy technology
• 15:56 - How this innovation is reaching remote communities in the Arctic and beyond

Resources:

• Learn more about Eco-Growth Environmental
• Get a firsthand look at how their technology works

The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

When we talk about food waste, most of us picture what ends up in our own kitchen bins — but there’s a whole other side to the story. Across Alberta, small businesses like cafés, restaurants, and grocery stores face big challenges when it comes to keeping food out of the landfill.

In this episode, Bri speaks with Maggie Bain, Project Manager of the ICI Food Waste Diversion Initiative at the Circular Innovation Council, about a pilot program in Strathcona County and Westlock that’s helping small businesses keep food out of landfills.

Together, they unpack how the project worked, what made it successful, and the impact it’s already having — from reducing methane emissions to inspiring long-term change in local communities.

Listen to learn:

• Why it’s so hard (and costly) for small businesses to divert food waste
• How collaboration between local governments, haulers, and processors made it possible
• The impressive results — including nearly 90,000 kg of organics diverted
• What this means for Alberta’s circular economy and the future of food waste solutions

Learn more about The Circular Innovation Council’s Commercial Waste Diversion Pilot

The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

The impact of food waste goes far beyond what ends up in our green bins or landfills. It affects our climate, our wallets, and our communities from wasted water and emissions to economic loss.

In part two of our conversation with Dr. Kate Parizeau, we are talking about why food waste matters and what can actually be done about it - from policy and infrastructure changes to simple actions we can all take at home.

Resources:

• Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International report - The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste
• Food insecurity among Canadian families (StatsCan)
• The Seed (Guelph, ON)
• Echo Food Rescue (Lacombe, AB)
• Circular Innovation Council

The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

Food waste is everywhere, from farms to our own kitchens, but what does it actually mean, and why is it so hard to track?

In the first episode of Season 7, host Bri Huot-Boer speaks with Dr. Kate Parizeau from the University of Guelph to unpack the basics: what food waste is, where it happens, and why Canada is still struggling to measure it. This conversation sets the stage for our season-long focus on food waste and the solutions that can make a difference!

Resources:

• Second Harvest
• The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste (2024)
• National Zero Waste Council
• Circular Innovation Council

The What On EARTH Can We Do? podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF), a registered charity dedicated to accelerating environmental excellence across Alberta.

Learn more about the AEF

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: 

The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

For over 30 years, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship, diverting millions of tires, litres of oil, and other materials from landfills. Joining us in this episode is Ed Gugenheimer, CEO of ARMA, to discuss the province's leadership in recycling, the evolution of ARMA's programs, and what the future holds for Alberta’s circular economy.

• 01:00 - The origins of ARMA and Alberta's early leadership in recycling
• 12:06 - Milestones in environmental impact
• 15:33 - Innovations in recycling, such as renewable energy components and AI-powered sorting systems
• 22:58 - Alberta’s ongoing role as a national leader in sustainable waste management

Ed Gugenheimer

Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Recycling Management Authority

• Learn more about ARMA and its programs: albertarecycling.ca

The What On EARTH Can We Do Podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation, a registered charity with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta’s visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives. 

Want to help keep this podcast going? Consider donating! https://emeraldfoundation.ca/donate/

Follow Us:

• Website: Emerald Foundation
• Twitter: @AlbertaEmerald
• Instagram: @AlbertaEmerald

Thank You to Our Sponsors: A big thank you to our sponsors who make this podcast possible: Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

Indigenous people are the original stewards of the land and have an important role to play in our collective response and action to a changing climate. In this episode we’re diving into the importance of reciprocity, the role of Indigenous knowledge in modern stewardship, and the significance of empowering Indigenous youth to lead future environmental initiatives. 

Key Topics

• 01:24 - Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and climate action
• 04:16 - Alberta-based examples of indigenous-led environmental stewardship
• 08:06 - The role of community in successful environmental initiatives
• 11:37 - Strategies for building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities
• 16:18 - Empowering Indigenous youth to become leaders in environmental stewardship

Mackenzie Brown

Mackenzie is an Indigenous singer, drummer, storyteller, knowledge seeker, songwriter, artist, and Cree cultural ambassador. Mackenzie is also First Nations Cree from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, though she currently live in Mohkinstsis, Calgary.

Books:

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Mother Earth Plants for Health & Beauty: Indigenous Plants, Traditions, and Recipes by Carrie Armstrong

Podcasts:

• Unreserved (CBC)
• The Secret Life of Canada (CBC)

Organizations:

• Future Ancestors
• Indigenous Youth Roots
• We Matter

The What On EARTH Can We Do Podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation, a registered charity with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta’s visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives. 

Want to help keep this podcast going? Consider donating! https://emeraldfoundation.ca/donate/

Follow Us:

• Website: Emerald Foundation
• Twitter: @AlbertaEmerald
• Instagram: @AlbertaEmerald

Thank You to Our Sponsors: A big thank you to our sponsors who make this podcast possible: Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.

Alberta is facing a growing challenge with over 170,000 abandoned oil wells across the province, creating environmental risks and economic burdens for rural communities. RenuWell Energy Solutions is addressing this issue by converting these orphan well sites into community solar projects that generate clean energy and support rural communities. Keith Hirsche, founder of RenuWell, joins host Bri to explain how this innovative approach works, the positive impacts on Albertan communities, and what it means for Alberta’s renewable energy future.

Key Topics:

• Understanding orphan wells (01:33) and their environmental and economic impact (05:31)
• RenuWell’s journey to repurpose orphan wells for solar energy (07:58)
• Social, economic, and environmental benefits of the RenuWell Project (18:00)
• The path forward (21:00)

Guest:

Keith Hirsche, Founder of RenuWell Energy Solutions

Resources Mentioned:

• 170,000 abandoned oil wells in the province
• Environmental risks of orphan wells
• Estimated cost to clean up Alberta’s orphan wells
• Orphan Well Association
• Municipal Climate Change Action Centre
• St. Mary River Irrigation District
• RenuWell Energy Solutions

The What On EARTH Can We Do Podcast is a program of the Alberta Emerald Foundation, a registered charity with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta’s visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives. 

Want to help keep this podcast going? Consider donating! https://emeraldfoundation.ca/donate/

Follow Us:

• Website: Emerald Foundation
• Twitter: @AlbertaEmerald
• Instagram: @AlbertaEmerald

Thank You to Our Sponsors: A big thank you to our sponsors who make this podcast possible: Capital Power, Government of Alberta, the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta, Pathways Alliance, City of Edmonton, TD Friends of the Environment, and City of Calgary

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Alberta Emerald Foundation. As a non-partisan organization, we are committed to presenting diverse perspectives on environmental issues.