Program Overview
The purpose of the Green Recognition Program is to promote sustainable practices within the community and raise awareness of initiatives being undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
This program is a community call to action, and part of our efforts to meet the City’s emissions reduction targets of 30% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.
The recognition program aims to inspire community members to take meaningful action towards addressing the impacts of climate change through a wide variety of green initiatives, and directly contribute to our GHG reduction targets.
It will also serve as an educational tool to amplify community-led efforts and sustainable practices, celebrate the success of initiatives underway and encourage further participation from the community.
The City of Stratford and the Energy and Environment Committee would like to recognize the following green leaders in our community:
Waste Reduction and Diversion:
| Keystone Hospitality |
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Source produce locally and grow some of their own
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Support farms that adhere to sustainable practices
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Focus on bulk sales to reduce paper and plastic packaging material
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Reuse cooking oil as biofuel
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Partnered with local business to reduce packaging waste from takeaway containers
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| Eco Club, Stratford District Secondary School |
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Demonstrated efforts in organics waste management and diversion through an on-site composter
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Aimed to build a closed-loop system: organic and landscape waste is composted to nutrition-rich soil for the school's garden. Produce grown in this garden is given to the student-run restaurant for meal preparation.
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| Vicwest |
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Aim to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2025
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Since 2020 Vicwest Lorne Avenue has reduced waste by 40%
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Ongoing tracking of waste through internal and external systems
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| Rotary Club of Stratford |
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recycling program including disposable masks, gowns, head and foot protection, and face shields
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Green Event Program, wherein all fundraising and other events minimize the use of plastic, ensure waste segregation (recycling and organic waste collection) in suitable receptacles
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| Rosehurst Stratford |
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Kitchen garden growing produce including herbs and vegetables for guests
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On-site composting system for food waste, paper and yard waste
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Use of natural water retention techniques and drip irrigation system
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Egg shells used as fertilizer, negating the need to procure synthetic fertilizer
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Phase-out of single use plastic containers for soap, shampoo and conditioner for guests
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| The Green Hair Spa |
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Ongoing waste diversion includes single-use plastics, PPE, excess hair colour waste and hair clippings
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Reuseable and biodegradable foils that are made from construction waste and converted to stone dust at end of life
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Refill and bottle return program for select hair products
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| MTE Consultants |
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Implementing organic waste collection have successfully diverted 224 L of organic waste from landfill
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Organization of e-waste drive for electronics
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Office supply waste recycling program to discard old writing instruments through another local business' writing instrument recycling program
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Participate in ink and toner cartridge recycling through another business' program
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Introduced Terracycle Zero Waste Boxes in our offices for recycling personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks and hard hats. Equal importance given to education and awareness amongst staff
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Employee engagement and community outreach
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Reiterate company's sustainability commitment with an updated Corporate Sustainability Policy
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| The Gentle Rain |
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Waste reduction efforts - reduced 4-5 garbage cans to one can per week
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Installed Terracycle boxes to recycle makeup containers, oral health products, razors - blades, handles, tubes & bottles that are not normally recyclable, and all asscociated packaging
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Supply plastic waste (that would otherwise end up in landfill) to a business in New Hamburg to create recycled plastic products such as plastic lumber
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Sam Ogilvie and Lorne Bolton
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Energy Management and Electrification:
| John Hotson |
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Received Federal rebates (Canada Greener Homes Grant)
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Home energy audit to identify deficiencies
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Upgrade of insulation to R50
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On-site energy generation through installation of solar panels
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Realized cost savings from fuel switching, e.g. electric lawnmower
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Switched to an electric car to reduce emissions even further
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| Laura Clark |
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| Carolyn Schmidt |
- Switched to an electrical vehicle to eliminate need for fossil fuels for transportation
- Charge vehicle during off-peak times, use regenerative braking, moderate speeds, minimized use of air conditioning/heating
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Green Building Award - new and existing:
| Vicwest |
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Decarbonization efforts throughout operations, including but not limited to:
- on-site renewable energy generation
- use of daylighting in the office
- fleet transition to electric vehicles
- rainwater harvesting and waste diversion strategy
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| Tom McKay |
- on-site renewable energy generation to supply energy and hot water requirements
- wind turbine and use of storage batteries to supplement energy needs
- water collection system and upgraded insulation
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