AGENDA

2nd Annual Plastic Waste Reduction Summit

The Gros Morne Movement Towards a Circular Economy

Feb 16-17th, 2022, 9:30-12:30 NT

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DAY 1​

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9:30-9:40:  Welcome

• Rebecca Brushett, AHOI Executive Director

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9:40-9:55: Keynote and Q&A - Circular Economy

• Paul Shorthouse, Managing Director of the Circular Economy Leadership Canada

What is a "circular economy" and why should we strive to create one? What are the benefits of moving towards this type of system? We'll hear from a leader in the circular economy movement.​

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9:55-10:10: AHOI Presentation - AHOI Plastics Program 

• Jackie Bauman, AHOI Senior Plastics Program Coordinator

What have we accomplished since our first Plastic Waste Reduction Summit? Join us for a year in review to hear about the progress we've made.​

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10:10-10:40: Panel Discussion and Q&A - Sustainable Products at Work

• Laurie Haycock, Co-owner of Gros Morne Farm & Market 

• Kristin Hickey, Co-owner of Gros Morne Adventures

• Jenny Parsons, Co-owner of Merchant Warehouse Retro Cafe and Wine Bar

• Councilor Steve Wheeler, Town of Norris Point , NL

How can we implement reusable, plastic-free take-out and food containers in businesses and public events? Our panelists who are part of AHOI's sustainable business pilot program, share their experiences, challenges and best practices with transitioning away from disposable, single-use plastic products.​

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10:40 - 11:05: Break​

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11:05-11:20: AHOI Presentation - Leakage Points Within our Waste System

• Aaron Hingston, AHOI Plastic Program Data Coordinator, AHOI Waste Buster

• Jackie Bauman, AHOI Senior Plastics Program Coordinator

What is washing up on our beaches? Where does it come from and how can we prevent it from getting there? We'll hear what AHOI and its partners are discovering through their research, beach cleanups and waste audits.  

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11:20-11:35: Remarks: Linking the Blue Economy and the Circular Economy ​

• The Honourable Mike Kelloway, MP. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

What makes our coastal communities resilient, and what role does the blue economy and circular economy play?  How can we promote economic growth and jobs while also ensuring the health of our oceans?​

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11:35-12:15: Panel Discussion and Q&A - Combating Leakage Points of Plastics

• Myrna Goosney, Town Clerk, Town of Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook

• Isha Senior Gentles, Environmental & Education Officer, Municipality of Colchester, NS 

• Trevor Bessette, Founder & CEO of Seaside Apparel NL and the Recycle on the Rock project.

With so many sources of plastic waste, it's not surprising that there are also countless programs and models created to combat it. We'll hear from an individual, a municipality and a region, that have identified leakage points within the system and have all come up with different programs and approaches to deal with them.​

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12:15-12:30: Closing Remarks

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DAY 2​

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9:30-9:45: Welcome/Recap & Next steps

• Rebecca Brushett, AHOI Executive Director

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9:45-55: Keynote 

• The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada

How can actions taken in small, rural, and remote areas help solve a global plastic pollution crisis?  What can we do to help reach federal and provincial waste reduction targets?  We'll hear from a prominent advocate and activist in the fight against climate change, who is also steering our country's climate plan.​

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9:55-10:10: AHOI Presentation -  Next Steps for Reducing Waste by 50%

• Jackie Bauman, AHOI Senior Plastics Program Coordinator

What are the impacts of our waste and how can we reduce it by 50% by the year 2025? We need to look at the waste system more holistically, and expand our efforts beyond just plastic if we're going to reach this provincial target.

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10:10-10:45: Panel Discussion and Q&A – Composting

• Councilor Jennifer Galliot, Town of Woody Point, NL

• Viviana Ramirez-Luna, Chair of Zero Waste Action Team, Social Justice Cooperative NL

• Joe Pittman, General Manager, Burin Peninsula Regional Service Board

Did you know that roughly 30% of our waste is compostable, or that when organics end up in the landfill they release toxins and contribute to climate change?  We'll hear about three very different composting programs being implemented in the province and how their different models are helping their specific areas. ​

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10:45-11:00: Break

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11:00-12:00: Break-Out Session

Join us for an opportunity to discuss what we've heard and share ideas about what more we could be doing to help move the Gros Morne region towards a more circular economy.

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12:00-12:10 - Remarks

• The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, M.P. for The Long Range Mountains, and Minister of Rural Economic Development.

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12:10-12:20 Circular Economy Commitment: AHOI 

AHOI is introducing its "Circular Economy Commitment", an open pledge that individuals, groups, businesses, municipalities, and governments can make to help reduce their waste and move us all towards a more sustainable, circular economy. We invite participants of the summit to select any actions they will strive to take in the future, as well as those already in practice.

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12:20-12:30: Closing Remarks

• Rebecca Brushett, AHOI Executive Director