Recycling Ambassador
Applications opening soon!
The Recycling Ambassador Program is a volunteer initiative for Township residents who live in a multi-family building—such as an apartment complex—that receive municipal recycling collection through a shared waste room.
Volunteers will engage with residents in their building through education and waste reduction initiatives. The Township will be there to help with training, outreach material, and ongoing support.
If you are passionate about waste reduction and want to help residents in your building improve their waste practices, this is the program for you!
What it means to be a Recycling Ambassador
You will be the go-to person for recycling information in your building. As an Ambassador, you will help identify recycling issues your building faces and engage with your neighbours to help resolve them.
This can be approached in many ways, such as:
- Improve waste-related signage
- Collect and take back items that can be recycled at a depot
- Build trust in the recycling program
- Promote reusing items
The why
| Multi-family residents have the lowest waste diversion rate in Metro Vancouver |
| Waste diversion is the process of sorting and redirecting waste away from the landfill. More than 60% of multi-family waste disposed of as garbage could be diverted by recycling or composting. |
| Save your money |
| The municipal recycling program is funded by Recycle BC and property taxes; therefore, it is provided at no additional cost to residents. When recyclables end up in the garbage, your building pays to dispose of them, and they are not recycled. |
| Improve the waste collection service your building receives |
| When waste rooms are tidy, and waste is correctly sorted, the Township’s waste contractor can efficiently collect everything in your recycling carts. |
| Make a positive environmental impact |
| Your recycling is a resource! Heavily contaminated recycling material can not be recycled. By minimizing contamination you increase the ability of it to be recycled and turned into something new. |
How to apply
- Fill in the application below
- Take part in a 1-hour training workshop
- Once you complete the workshop, you will officially be a Recycling Ambassador!
Resource catalogue
Find out what resources are available to help residents recycle correctly in your building.
Recycling Ambassador resource catalogue
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
| Do I need approval from my building manager or strata? |
| Yes, as a Recycling Ambassador, your involvement may require your strata or building manager’s assistance. It’s best to check in with your strata/building manager before signing up. |
| Is there an age requirement? |
| You can be any age to volunteer. If you are under the age of 19, you must volunteer with an adult. |
| Can you have more than one Recycling Ambassador in the same building? |
| Yes, the more the merrier! Improving recycling and reducing waste is an ongoing effort. Multiple ambassadors may be able to work together to take on slightly larger recycling projects. |
| Do I have to take part in the training workshop? |
| Yes, training is mandatory; we offer a few 1-hour training sessions throughout the year. The purpose of the training session is to meet the program coordinator, learn about recycling practices in the Township, generate ideas, and set goals. |
| How many volunteer hours are required? |
| It’s up to you! At a minimum, we recommend making yourself available to answer resident questions and updating posters at least once every couple of months. Larger projects such as garage sales, re-use events, or introducing the collection of new items can take longer. |
Contact
Solid Waste
604-532-7300
ambassador@tol.ca