Improving Recycling in Churchill and Northern Manitoba
Strong New Partnerships Key to Pilot Project Success
The Churchill Recycling Pilot Project is a community-led effort to improve waste management in northern Manitoba. The project will help reduce landfill waste in Churchill by fostering new partnerships between local governments, industry and environmental groups.
In the past, recyclable materials remained in Churchill too long, with too many recyclables ending up in landfills. With this pilot project, large cement storage bags were shipped to Churchill and filled with recyclable waste materials and then transported on the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) from Churchill to Thompson, Manitoba for processing.
To date, twenty-three (23) loads of recyclable materials have been collected in Churchill, stored at the Arctic Gateway Group’s (AGG) warehouses, and moved to Thompson for processing. This represents over 4,000 lbs of recyclable materials moved from Churchill to Thompson, keeping them out of landfills and protecting the wildlife of the Hudson Bay.
Strong Community Partnerships
The initiative relies on strong partnerships with local groups, businesses, and environmental organizations, including The Thompson Recycling Centre, AGG, Supply Chain Manitoba, and the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association.
““At Supply Chain Manitoba we’re making sure that we can maximize the use of our supply chain networks to help northern communities improve their sustainability practices. We’re grateful to work alongside committed community partners, such as the Arctic Gateway Group, Thompson Recycling Centre, and Manitoba Environmental Industries Association, to help make waste collection in Manitoba’s north more sustainable.””
“Businesses and families in Churchill care deeply about the sustainability and wellbeing of the environment,” said Erin Lubinski, Director, Workforce Development, Supply Chain Manitoba. “At Supply Chain Manitoba we’re making sure that we can maximize the use of our supply chain networks to help northern communities improve their sustainability practices. We’re grateful to work alongside committed community partners, such as the Arctic Gateway Group, Thompson Recycling Centre, and Manitoba Environmental Industries Association, to help make waste collection in Manitoba’s north more sustainable.”
Arctic Gateway’s Role
AGG has played a key part in the project's success by providing cost-effective transportation of materials, logistics support, and by helping build regional partnerships. AGG will continue to help ensure the project succeeds, using its expertise in supply chain management and advancing our commitment to sustainability.
Looking ahead, the project plans to transport more recycling materials from Churchill to Thompson, serving as a model for other northern community initiatives.
Learn more about recycling in Churchill here, as well as the work of Supply Chain Manitoba here.