Getting Smart About Waste Most Commercial Real Estate companies across Canada do not have a comprehensive national recycling and waste program across their portfolios due to varying local market conditions and the use of regionallybased waste management companies. When thinking about sustainably managing waste and improving a company’s practices, it is important to first understand the waste that is generated across the portfolio and how it is currently managed. High quality data is crucial to driving meaningful waste management improvements but can be difficult to obtain with the myriad of service providers across the country. Hence, monitoring one’s current waste management provides the foundation for implementing a meaningful reduction programme. By Melissa Jacobs Shops at King Liberty is one of many FCR properties working with RecycleSmart.
In 2015, First Capital Realty (FCR), an owner and operator of urban retail properties across Canada, was seeking to improve the efficiency and reduce the costs related to our existing waste and recycling program. However, we were inhibited by the lack of a scalable waste monitoring method and suffered from inconsistent reporting in different regions across Canada. FCR decided to engage a third-party waste consultant (RecycleSmart) with a focus to maximize cost reduction, increase waste diversion and streamline data collection. The relationship with RecycleSmart began in Western Canada and after having seen progress in our portfolio out there, in 2017 FCR expanded the relationship to include our Ontario portfolio as well. In total, there are now 170 FCR sites working with RecycleSmart across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. RecycleSmart uses licensed and proprietary IoT technology to intelligently monitor waste and recycling measurements throughout Canada. Combined with employing some of the most celebrated professionals in the enviroservices field, they right-size programs while focusing on diversion and sustainability opportunities, combined with money-saving improvements. 12
SPRING 2019 Toronto FOCUS
RecycleSmart knows that the best way to realize shared fiscal and sustainability wins is to work with progressive partners on building a solid business case for adoption. Being named Canada’s 12th fastest-growing company in 2018 (#1 in industrial services) is proof positive that their service and approach is right at home with the amazing roster of partners putting their trust in RecycleSmart every day. Using GPS, cellular IoT, sonar and optical technology, fill and contamination levels in bins can be detected across North America. This ability allows for data to be tracked, displayed and shared. Information which was once based on guesses and best estimates is now captured and recorded. The newly tracked data provides real numbers to apply against waste and recycling rates. Some of the benefits include: • It allows for bins and waste compactors to be emptied only when full • It reduces the numbers of large trucks on the road – reducing the number of deliveries and shipments to busy loading bays