Centralized Composting and Food Waste Disposer (FWD) Use as Competing Organic Waste Management Strategies in Vancouver Multi-Family Homes

The diversion of organics from multi-family homes in the City of Vancouver is a critical component of meeting the Greenest City Action Plan target of reducing the amount of landfilled or incinerated solid waste by 50% compared to 2008 levels. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the environmental impacts of a centralized composting program versus the use of garburators (herein referred to as food waste disposers, FWDs) as organic waste management strategies for multi-family residences in the City of Vancouver.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: zero waste, food systems, waste management & recycling

Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Alison McKenzie

Residential Tree Planting Programs: A Review of Best Practices

This report is intended to inform the development of a local community-based program aimed at encouraging increased residential tree planting throughout Vancouver. While a number of non-profit organisations have developed programming that mobilises community participation on issues of environmental stewardship and urban forestry, there has been no sustained and systematic campaign that engages residents to enhance the city’s urban forest through planting on private property. This report identifies pertinent best practices that have emerged from efforts happening within North America.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: access to nature, ecological systems, green buildings

Built Environment & Mobility
Ecological Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Jason Hsieh

Engaging Vancouver's Chinese community in achieving a one-planet ecological footprint

Chinese residents in Vancouver have a high awareness of and interest in sustainability, but have a lower level of participation in the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. This project aims to understand this gap in participation by addressing how the City of Vancouver can better engage the broader Chinese community in taking action towards meeting the Greenest City goals and supporting a one-planet ecological footprint. Recommendations for planning a multicultural engagement strategy include: building connections, employing eco-champions, parallel Greenest City multi-cultural branding, and developing a targetted program.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: social sustainability, sustainability in education

Climate Change & Energy
Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Krystie Babalos

Applicability of a Road Rating System to the City of Vancouver

This report provides an evaluation of the applicability of a road rating system to the road construction practices of the City of Vancouver public works. A road rating system is a collection of best practices that can be utilized to achieve sustainable road construction. The primary objective of using a road rating system is to identify the level of sustainable measures within specific projects and gauge success factors against other projects. This report focuses on five road rating systems, including Greenroads, GreenLITES, INVEST, I-LAST, STEED.

Partner: 2012-07
Keywords: green buildings, transportation

Built Environment & Mobility
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Kamal Abdul

Can Trout Lake be a natural swimming lake, reducing the amount of potable water used and improving water quality, through approaches such as an constructed wetland?

This research project focuses on an urban water body in Vancouver that has the potential to optimize ecological, recreational and cultural uses while decreasing the use of potable water. The question posed is: Can Trout Lake be a natural swimming lake, reducing the amount of potable water used and improving water quality through approaches such as a constructed wetland? And, are there comparable examples world wide that can be used as a precedent for future works at Trout Lake?

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: clean water, ecological systems, water

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Christine Cooper

A Study on VPD Patrol Officers’ Idling Behaviour

The main objective of this research was to observe the circumstances in which patrol officers in the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) idle their vehicles and for how long. During the research, officer comments and suggestions were recorded to gain a better understanding of their attitude towards idling and sustainability. The information from this report will inform the VPD about drivers’ idling behaviour and guide decisions about vehicle improvements. In addition, this report will address alternative ways to reduce idling that can serve as a complement to anti-idle technology.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Keywords: green transportation, transportation

Built Environment & Mobility
Data & Technology
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2012
Katie O'Callaghan

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