Canada’s Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) and Island Futures Society have been approved for the 2022 round of funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo aimed at innovative programs that develop a circular economy.
Destined for phase 2 of C2C Threads, its textile recovery social enterprise initiative, GIRO will receive $92,000. The multi-pronged project focused on keeping the 52,000 pounds of textiles it collects annually out of landfills and will purchase a textile shredder, which can be used in making stuffed products. C2C Threads has partnered with locals to produce pet beds, floor pillows, and a few products that replace single-use items.
“We’ve had some wonderful feedback from locals – they’re really enjoying the different products and using them for a variety of things that we hadn’t even thought of,” Michelle Kresnyak, GIRO’s general manager, said.
The RDN funding will also go towards research and development on acoustic panels made from GIRO-collected textiles.
“We are organically making adjustments as it’s happening in real-time and I think we’re managing to take the steps to make sure the next stage of the project can happen in the way that we planned it,” Kresnyak said.
Part of the initiative involves building a textile-repurposing building, or makers space, on the GIRO property, which will include stations for product makers as well as repairs. Expanding the initiative to Nanaimo is also in the making which would include transporting textiles over to Gabriola for shredding. Donations from the Gabriola community have been vital to the development of C2C, Kresnyak and Weller said.
Meanwhile, Island Futures Society has been awarded $2,500 to carry out research and market analysis for repurposing vegetable oil on Gabriola. It aims to reduce fossil fuel use by diverting all waste vegetable oil use on Gabriola, an estimated 7,000 litres from restaurants annually.
Previously that oil was made into biodiesel and used to power GERTIE. However, the new bus is unable to use the fuel, and the price of methanol used to make it has seen a significant increase.
“Before we were able to provide biodiesel for Gertie at quite a bit lower price,” Weller said. The society is interested in exploring uses that don’t require the use of methanol. I think there’s definitely a wide opening for biofuels,”
In the first phase of the project, Island Futures will hire a researcher to analyze possible products such as biodiesel for heavy duty vehicles and generators, space heating for accessory buildings, hot water heating and animal feed and compost.
“The idea is that this waste vegetable oil is on Gabriola and let’s treat it as a resource and use it in some way on Gabriola that might be useful,” Weller said.