Project overview

The goal of this project is to pilot a reusable container program as one means to help reduce single-use items and plastics from Banff National Park. This program will require collaboration from multiple stakeholders including businesses in the food & hospitality sector, the Town of Banff, and community volunteers. I am taking on this project as a part of my 8-month capstone design project at the University of Waterloo, which comes to an end in April. However, my intention is for this program to eventually turn into a long-term solution for the town.

Reusable Container Program Structure

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  1. Have multiple businesses participate in the program and purchase containers
  2. Customers have the option to use a reusable container with a $5 deposit
  3. Every time a reusable container is used, the business diverts waste and saves money
  4. Customers return the container to any of the participating businesses
  5. Businesses clean the container + redistribute as needed

Project Objectives

  1. Reduce the use of single-use items and plastics in Banff National Park as a stepping stone towards other environmental changes.
  2. Test the feasibility of a reusable container program that is common across Banff food & hospitality establishments
  3. Instill a sense of urgency and ambition by showing community members that they can accelerate environmental action
  4. Contribute to Banff's overall image as a leader in environmental stewardship
  5. Test the effectiveness of iterative and test-based methodology as a means of tackling environmental issues

Project Timeline & Action Plan

The rough timeline for this project is divided into five sections from September to April: