The District of Squamish is facing a major overhaul of their waste disposal program as a multi-million dollar restructuring of the landfill looms, so what better time to discuss the question of waste?
The Squamish Climate Action Network (CAN) is holding its first Melting Pot series offering of 2010 with a film and discussion entitled Dumping Our Landfills.
"How did we end up with so much stuff?" asks Ana Santos of The Squamish Climate Action Network (CAN). "How come we always need more? What happens to it when we throw it away? Where is 'away'?"
The theme of the evening revolves around a concept some may believe impossible - the elimination of landfills.
"We are going to look at our landfills and why we have them, and then we are going to learn how to move away from them... because you believe me when I say we can, right?" said Santos.
The Monday (Jan. 18) event at the Adventure Centre will show part one of Trashed - Whose waste is it anyway? - part two will be screened Monday, Jan. 25.
Billed as "an informative and thought-provoking film everyone interested in the future of sustainability should see," Trashed takes a provocative look at one of the fastest growing industries in North America - the garbage business.
It examines a fundamental element of modern North American culture: the disposal of what society defines as "waste."
"It is an issue influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences," states the film's synopsis. "Nor, it seems, the implications to our biosphere."
It asks: What are the effects all this waste will have on already strained natural resources? Why is so much of it produced? While every American creates almost five pounds of it every day, who is affected most? And who wants America to make more?
The film analyzes the causes and effects of the seemingly innocuous act of "taking out the garbage" while showcasing the individuals, activists, corporate and advocacy groups working to affect change and reform the current model.
Following the film, audiences can listen in on a discussion involving Kevin Ramsay, district chief administrative officer, and Brian Barnett, who was recently hired to produce a strategic waste management plan for the community.
As it reached capacity, the district has long struggled with expanding the landfill. Last fall, council agreed it should grow vertically, however members fell short of agreeing what course to take, and cringed at the more than $3 million price tag the project may end up carrying.
Get the latest update on the district's initiative at the Squamish Adventure Centre Monday (Jan. 18) from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.
