Think Green - October 20, 2022

BIKES ARE THE FUTURE

CANADIANS FROM TOXIC CHEMICALS

FOR FIRST-TIME ELECTRIC CAR BUYERS

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES RECYCLE YOUR BATTERIES

Cargo Bikes are the Future

Victoria’s cycling infrastructure is growing stronger every day. With new cycling corridors, pathways, and separate lanes popping up around the city, there is nowhere you can’t go by bike. However, with a load of groceries or children in tow, it can be di icult to make the switch to cycling.

ENTER: THE ELECTRIC CARGO BIKE

Modern e-cargo bikes are equipped with powerful motors, longer lasting batteries, and a slew of accessories to keep your goods safe, dry, and warm. Big tech names like Bosch and Shimano have created specific cargo motors for carrying heavy loads for extended periods. E-bike batteries can now last up to almost 200km depending on the level of assist and the weight of the load. With how far bike technology has come, bikes are going further and lasting longer.

For families trying to decrease driving time, e-cargo bikes can carry

multiple children either in front or behind the rider, plus have the capacity for extra storage for school supplies or groceries. Creating a sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to mean ditching the car completely. By replacing just one car ride a week, you can help reduce the impact on both the planet and your wallet - not to mention the plethora of benefits to your mental and physical health.

For a grocery run or daycare drop-o that reduces your carbon footprint, try an electric cargo bike. You can have one delivered to your home for a free trial

without any obligation to buy. Just visit Oak Bay Bikes at 1990 Oak Bay Ave or phone 250-598-4111 and inquire about the Demo on Demand Program.

Get a taste of a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on gas. Cargo or not, bikes are the future. And if you’re thinking about the future, think green.

Protecting Canadians from Toxic Chemicals

Canadians are exposed to chemicals every day in the products they use. They expect their government to take action to protect them from toxic substances and ensure that all people can live in a healthy environment. But Canada’s main environmental law to prevent pollution and regulate toxic chemicals is badly out of date. While over 150 countries already have legal obligations to protect

the human right to a healthy environment, Canada does not.

In the two decades since the Canadian Environmental Protection Act was last updated, the number of chemicals that people in Canada are exposed to in their daily lives has grown exponentially. We have also learned much more about the harmful cumulative e ects of these toxic chemicals on our health. Exposure to hazardous chemicals, even in small amounts,

is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, asthma, and diabetes. And, frontline workers, women and racialized people o en have higher exposures to hazardous chemicals.

Without modernized legislation, Canadians will continue to be exposed to unregulated and harmful chemicals.

New Democrats welcome Bill S-5, which updates the management of chemicals in Canada and recognizes the right to a healthy environment.

These are things we have been calling on the government to do for years. But, the Liberal government introduced this bill and included some critical loopholes, including limitations on how environmental rights will be enforced and a lack of clear accountability and timelines for how toxic substances are managed. We also want to see mandatory labelling, so Canadians can make informed choices about the products they use and ensure

that corporations cannot hide which toxic substances are in their products. If we actually want to protect the environment and our health, we must ensure that we are following the advice of scientists and experts – not the interests of big corporations.

New Democrats will continue pushing to ensure that Canadians can enjoy safe products and a healthy environment for generations to come.

Tips for First-time Electric Car Buyers

Electric vehicles are widely touted as the vehicles of the future. Despite the growing availability of such cars in the present day, for many drivers EVs remain a novelty. That means buying an EV for the first time is a wholly new and unique experience.

Narrowing down a growing number of options may not come easy to first-time EV buyers, who can keep these tips in mind as they begin this exciting journey.

• LOOK INTO SUBSIDIES.

The Canadian Automobile Association reports that the Government of Canada offers point-of-sale incentives of as much as $5,000 for drivers who buy or lease an EV. This subsidy can help bring the cost of EV ownership down by a significant amount and are worth exploring as drivers decide which electric car or truck to buy.

• GET AN IDEA OF THE ACCESSIBILITY OF CHARGING STATIONS AROUND YOUR HOME. The number of public charging stations is on the rise, but there’s still a lot of work to be done in this area. In fact, research from McKinsey & Company indicates that nearly half of consumers in the United States indicate that battery or charging issues are their foremost concerns about buying EVs. The automotive resource Auto Trader notes that most EVs have enough battery range to

cover more than the average daily commute in America. But drivers who hope to use their EVs as their everyday cars that take them to work and help them run errands and get around town should confirm there are enough public charging stations to make that possible.

• CONSIDER YOUR PARKING SITUATION. Homeowners who own single-family homes with a garage that can accommodate at least one vehicle can easily charge their EVs so long as they clear space in the garage where the car can be parked. Auto Trader notes that some garages may need to be upgraded with a level two charger, and that can be expensive. Drivers who must park their EVs outdoors overnight should know that this, too, may require some additional funds for electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE). Local building codes may govern the installation of such equipment, which is best performed by an electrician.

These are some additional costs of EV ownership that first-time buyers must consider and research before they switch to an electric car or truck.

EVs may become the new normal over the next several decades. But before that day arrives, first-time EV buyers must consider a host of factors as they shop around for an electric car or truck. – MC

Used oil can be recycled a a n d u s e d a g a i n a n d a g a i n a and again and again and aga ain and again and again and

Growing Communities

There’s a critical housing shortage in North Cowichan, but some of the population – like seniors, young families and students – are especially getting left behind by the area’s limited options. The Oaklands by the Lake project could help to change that.

“It is important for our residents to have housing options that best suit their family. I’m seeing a lot of developments that are very cookiecutter and are just cramming [residents] in,” says Oaklands by the Lake’s president and project coordinator Jenta Madsen.

She wanted to create something different – a housing development that would embrace the environment and offer its residents natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The location on Lake Quamichan was perfect, she says.

Currently in the public feedback phase of their proposal, the Oaklands by the Lake project proposes eight single-family homes, 16 townhomes and a 22unit apartment complex just five minutes from downtown Duncan.

To further enhance the community, the property plan

includes a gathering place on the water, walking paths, and a commercial space inside the apartment complex for potential bike and non-motorized recreational equipment rentals.

“Not only will our development complement Rowing Canada’s National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake, but our proposed lift station will also enhance the lake’s water quality by reducing the amount of waste water entering it,” says Madsen.

With 65 percent of the property intended to be enjoyable green

space, Oaklands also proposes to improve the existing lawn and ditch areas by removing invasive plant species and replacing them with rain gardens and retention ponds full of native plantings.

“This development provides for a sustainable balance between the environmental, social, and

economic needs of our growing community while safeguarding our ecosystem for future generations. These values underpin all of our goals, as well as the overall direction of this project,” Madsen says.

oaklandsbythelake.ca

Yes Oaklands by t he L ake does bo t h!

Enhanced greenspace cover ing 65% of proper t y, increased tree coverage , housing whic h prov ides t he missing middle for families , seniors , student s and at hle tes , and a li ft station t hat will increase lake water qualit y! Oaklands by t he lake is sho wing t hat we can improve t he env ironment while also solv ing our housing cr isis .

he lake .c a to f ind ou t more!

Can we save the environment? Can we solve the housing crisis?

Building a sustainable balance between environmental, social, and economic needs

Recycle your Batteries during Waste Reduction Week

Modern demand for convenience has increased the number of battery-operated devices, and consumers are using more batteries than ever. During Waste Reduction Week (October 17-23), the operators of Canada’s largest consumer battery recycling program are encouraging consumers to make sure those batteries don’t end up in landfill."It’s important to recycle used batteries to help protect the environment and support a healthy circular economy,” says Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada. “Batteries should never be thrown out.

Materials reclaimed in the recycling process can be used to make new products. So, if you're not already recycling, it’s a great time to start.”

COLLECT, PROTECT AND DROP OFF

So, what exactly should you do with your used batteries? Call2Recycle recommends collecting them in a non-metal containersuch as a glass jar or shoebox - and keeping them stored in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Whether you go through a lot of batteries, or just a few, they’ll add up soon enough.

Some batteries require additional protection. You can help prevent sparks by using non-conductive tape to cover the positive terminal of lithium, small sealed lead acid (SSLA), button cell, and alkaline batteries over 12V. Alternatively, these batteries should be placed in individual plastic bags.

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

Finally, aim to drop o your collected batteries every 3 months to avoid corrosion. Call2Recycle has over 1,400

drop-o locations in British Columbia, including over 50 in Victoria. You can find your closest location by visiting RecycleYourBatteries.ca.

Call2Recycle collects and recycles both single-use and rechargeable dry-cell batteries (weighing up to 5 kilograms each). By recycling your batteries, you can be sure that the recovered materials will be made into new products, which helps to foster a healthy circular economy!

Just collect, protect and drop off your batteries every 3 months. You can find our drop boxes at pharmacies, hardware stores, grocery stores, municipal depots, and other facilities near you.

the nearest location at

Transit riders in the Capital Region will soon benefit from brand new cleaner, quieter electric buses

Transit riders in the Capital Region will soon benefit from brand new cleaner, quieter electric buses.

BC Transit’s first series of electric buses and charging equipment will be coming to Victoria as part of the goal to transition to an entirely electric fleet by 2040.

A er a rigorous procurement process, the contract to build and deliver the first 10 heavyduty electric buses to BC Transit has been finalized and formally awarded to Proterra Operating Company Inc. (Proterra). The nonexclusive contract will additionally enable BC Transit to advance the Low Carbon Fleet Program with the purchase of additional buses, chargers, and supporting services from Proterra, with a potential 500 heavy-duty buses expected to be replaced in the next 10 years. The contract also allows BC Transit the flexibility to respond to changing market dynamics and technology.

Proterra was named the successful proponent on May 16th, 2022. The first project under the contract is for $20 million for the Victoria electric bus project. The contract award completes the competitive procurement process that began in the fall of 2020.

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zeroemission electric transit vehicles and EV technology solutions for

commercial applications. With more than 800 vehicles on the road today, Proterra battery systems have been proven over 25 million service miles driven and are selected by world-class commercial vehicle manufacturers to electrify delivery vehicles, construction equipment, school buses, coach buses and more.

As part of the project, one electric bus will be deployed in

Victoria in Fall 2022 in preparation for the 10 built-to-order buses that will be delivered starting in Summer 2023. The contract allows BC Transit the option of purchasing more heavy-duty electric buses, charging equipment, and supporting services in the future.

The project is being cost shared with the Government of Canada contributing 40 per cent and the Province of BC contributing 40

per cent of eligible costs. Federal funding for the buses, charging equipment, and the associated infrastructure project is provided through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Electric Buses have many advantages — most importantly they use B.C.’s readily available renewable electricity, resulting in nearly zero emissions from operations. These buses are also more e icient, quieter, and have lower operating costs.

BC Transit will continue working to pursue future electric bus projects, encouraged by CleanBC, Provincial support, and Government of Canada funding programs designed to help public transit fleets transition to electrification. To learn more about BC Transit’s Low Carbon Fleet Program, please visit bctransit.com/ low-carbon-fleet-program

Opinion Matters!

more at produc tcare.org/alarms

Broken, expired, or faulty alarms can be recycled for FREE.

Onl y working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. Check to make sure yours work.

Planning a trip to a Return It location? See this handy guide for recycling best practices.

ALUMINUM

Recycle your beverage containers the right way with Return-It

When it comes to recycling, British Columbians are doing their part. By recycling your empty beverage containers, you contribute to preserving the environment because those containers are turned into new products, reducing the demand for raw materials and energy used to make new items

Recycling good-to-know

Did you know that you can now return milk and plant-based beverage containers for a deposit refund at any Return-It location? With more beverage containers added into the Return-It system, you may have questions about best practices for recycling each container What do you do to ensure the str aws from the drink boxes and drink pouches get recycled? How about those bags when you buy a beverage in a bag-ina-box? Simple! Every beverage container you bring back to a Return-It location is fully recyclable. Just remember to leave plastic caps on containers, push straws into drink boxes and pouches, and leave the bags in the boxes so they get recycled too

METAL

PLASTIC BOTTLES

OTHER PLASTIC JUGS AND CUPS

GLASS BOTTLES

BAG IN A BOX

GABLE TOP CONTAINERS

DRINK BOX

POUCHES

For a full list of beverage containers accepted at our Return-It locations, visit return-it.ca/beverage/products/

For more information and to find the nearest Return It Depot location, call us toll-free at 1-855-350-2345, or visit return-it.ca

The Result

In 2020, Return It calculated the amount of energy saved by using recycled material to make beverage containers versus making beverage containers using new raw materials

Aluminum cans are turned into sheet stock and made into new cans, saving 93% of energy Plastic containers are pelletized into raw materials for plastic products, resulting in 86% energy savings Glass containers are made into raw materials to make new glass containers and fiberglass insulation, saving 34% of energy Drink pouches are turned into composite decking, buckets, storage totes, and non food grade containers and trays, saving 53% energy Similarly, plastic bladders inside the bag in a box are turned into composite decking, buckets, storage totes, and non food grade containers and trays, resulting in 53% energy savings Gable top containers are turned into tissue paper and building boards, resulting in 53% energy savings and bi metal containers are used to make new metal products, resulting in 82% energy savings

Together, British Columbians have helped to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and demand for raw materials, ultimately preserving the environment.

About Return-it

Return-It is the not-for-profit stewardship agency responsible for recycling beverage containers in British Columbia. In the past 27 years, Return-It has prevented more than 23 billion beverage containers from ending up in landfill, instead recycling them into new products