Led by a mandate to build and maintain strong, vibrant communities for the long term, Concert employees seek out ways to strengthen our commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Last year, Office Services staff Maya Siegel and Victoria Willes engaged United We Can, a charitable organization that leverages environmental initiatives to create economic opportunities for Downtown Eastside residents with multiple barriers. It was through United We Can that Concert connected with the Binners’ Project for the recycling program at the Downtown Vancouver office.
The Binners’ Project, aided by support staff, is a group of waste-pickers dedicated to improving their economic opportunities and reducing the stigma they face as informal recyclable collectors. The Vancouver-based initiative fosters social and economic inclusion. It builds community resilience and stronger networks, while tackling issues of sustainability.
Through the Binners’ Project, Concert was matched with one of over 300 Vancouver residents involved in the project, who carries out weekly pick-ups from the Concert head office in Downtown Vancouver. His livelihood stems from the refunds received from used containers collected at Concert and other pick-up locations.
“At Concert, we are proud to work with community-based initiatives like the Binners’ Project to promote our core values,” says Brian McCauley, President and CEO. “This organization provides a great opportunity to engage hard-working people in meaningful employment while furthering our social and environmental sustainability goals.”
In addition to residential, commercial and event recyclables pick-up services, the Binners’ Project manages a number of initiatives, including The Coffee Cup Revolution, an annual event designed to demonstrate what a coffee refund system could achieve. These initiatives open a dialogue about how binning supports green communities.