Rethinking Waste

Part of the C-Change Conference. In the Making: Holding the Uncertain as We Dream and Tend

The global waste crisis has contributed to the acceleration of climate change and biodiversity loss while also reinforcing existing economic and social inequalities. Reimagining our idea of “waste” is therefore a fundamental component of solving these environmental and social dilemmas. This interactive presentation will serve as a cast study which explores how three Montreal-based groups are rethinking the concept of waste and actively working toward transforming the way we approach waste reduction.

The three local groups include Scraps MTL, Improove, and ABCompost, the latter which is initiative that is part of the Concordia Greenhouse. Each group will present a mini demonstration of their approach to reducing physical waste based off their area of expertise. Throughout the session, participants will gain hands-on experience and practical insights into innovative ways to divert waste, from repurposing materials to reducing food waste and improving composting practices. The goal of this interactive session is to spark creativity in attendees, help them rethink waste in their own lives, and empower them to take actionable steps towards fighting the waste and climate change crises.

How can you participate? Join us in person by registering here or online by registering for the Zoom Meeting.

Have questions? Send them to info.4@concordia.ca

Catherine Rokakis, ABCompost

ABCompost collects food waste from Concordia food groups to produce compost for the campus community and runs workshops to make composting more accessible and affordable for students. Their showcase will show the process of worm-composting through a hands-on demonstration and present results of a composting study that provides insights into the composting needs of Concordia students.

Catherine Rokakis is a Master's student in the Geography, Planning, and Environment program at Concordia University, working under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Gould. In addition to this, she is the Compost Program Coordinator at the Concordia Greenhouse and co-leads ABCompost, a student-led composting initiative. Her work for ABCompost focuses on food waste diversion through vermiculture and educating students on sustainable waste management practices as well as food waste reduction.

Samir, Improove

Improove is a Montreal-based non-profit that fights food waste and insecurity by rescuing unsold fruits and vegetables to create "panier anti-gaspi" baskets. These profits are then donated to community groups. Their showcase will be a visual presentation on how their food baskets repurposes food waste in a transformative way that creates positive social impacts in the broader Montreal community

Kelsi, Scraps Montreal

Scraps Montreal is a community-driven initiative that transforms discarded materials through research and hands-on workshops to promote sustainability and creative reuse. Their showcase be a hands-on demonstration on how to transform waste into natural dye, highlighting creative ways to repurpose discarded materials.