The Changes

how can we work together collectively to reduce the amount of waste that businesses are generating?

If you ever travel on a Canadian air carrier and spot a flight attendant with "pro-environment" buttons on her suitcase+apron, and that she leaves the aircraft carrying a bag of plastic bottles, and that she "forces" passengers to reuse plastic cups/bottles during a flight and asks people to take off their own plastic waste for recycling.... yep thats me.

I am a visual arts/industrial design student and I also work as a flight attendant for a Canadian Airline. After 3+ years in the industry, I have decided to either make a commitment to change something or quit this environmentally-devastating job.

Is there really need for garbage? Is it possible to live without producing waste?

I'm at a place where i recycle everything that can be... but i want to be in a place where i buy things according to whether or not the packaging can be recycled or reused. I live in an apartment now... so i don't know how i can do the compost thing... but i want to find out!!!

I want to make all my own bodycare products and household cleaning products (i know how!) and show others how to as well! This will reduce the use of chemicals in our community, and the amount of waste those products create.

i want to make an effort to buy all my clothes second hand... like i used to when i was young.

i want to start up a Vancouver free store! i just need the space to do it! A place where people can leave what they no longer need (in good condition), and take what they need. Books, clothing, appliances, furniture... what ever there is room for. an open space where people can freely go. Some volunteers to keep things organized and turn away genuine garbage and broken items.
A place where people are giving... and they know they are giving to the community! A place where people are not greedy, and only take what they need, knowing others are also in need!

Give back to the community. Volunteer at ERA Computer Recycling Vancouver BC

ERA donates refurbished computers to Charity.

By recycling more, and by starting to compost organic waste, I can turn my waste into something useful, instead of contributing to landfills.

My plan is to reinvigorate my old (yet perfectly good) clothes by altering, tailoring, fixing, hemming... whatever needs to be done to them. This way, my old clothes become like new clothes to me, I spend less money and I consume and waste less too.