Description

Get your business ready for Earth Day 2026 with practical, high-impact food waste solutions.
Food waste is one of the biggest unnecessary expenses for food service and grocery businesses in British Columbia. Every year, local businesses lose millions due to wasted food, increased disposal fees, and inefficient practices. With Earth Day approaching on April 22, this is the perfect time to learn strategies that help your business reduce waste, save money, and improve environmental performance.

Join AWARE Whistler and the Whistler Chamber for a hands-on, solutions-focused workshop designed for restaurants, hotels, and grocery retailers. You'll learn how to reduce food waste, stay compliant with Whistler's Solid Waste By-Law, and apply cost-saving strategies that support both your bottom line and the planet.

What You'll Learn

• How to meet organic waste separation requirements and avoid compliance issues
• Proven food waste reduction strategies for kitchens, purchasing, and storage
• Ways to repurpose, redistribute, or recover surplus food
• How to lower disposal costs and improve operational efficiency
• Access to free ongoing support through AWARE's From Waste to Action program

Why Attend?

• Boost your sustainability performance ahead of Earth Day
• Improve efficiency and reduce avoidable costs
• Learn practical techniques you can implement immediately
• Collaborate with other local businesses facing similar challenges

Who Should Attend

• Restaurant and hotel managers
• Grocery and food retail operators
• Chefs, kitchen managers, and purchasing leads
• Staff involved in waste management or food donation programs

Start Earth Day strong - register today and take action toward lower costs and a more sustainable business.

This event is hosted in partnership with AWARE and GFL who have been working together to support our local community in reaching Zero Waste targets. The partnership has a goal of reducing combined waste to landfill by 5% and provides support to local businesses with waste reduction and management through education and collaboration. 

About AWARE

The Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) works with the community to deliver bold, inspiring, evidence-based solutions to the environmental issues that affect Whistler. Read more at awarewhistler.org

This workshop is part of AWARE's From Waste to Action campaign, offering free ongoing support to Whistler businesses committed to reducing waste. Learn more at awarewhistler.org

Meet the Facilitator: Kirsty Smyth 
Kirsty Smyth leads AWARE’s Zero Waste initiatives, working with businesses across the Sea-to-Sky to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.

She has a background in engineering and sustainability, with experience in sustainability policy for the Scottish Government and as a sustainable energy consultant with Arup. She has led multidisciplinary teams delivering technical sustainability projects for a wide range of organizations, from small businesses to national governments. Her work focuses on identifying economically and environmentally effective solutions within complex systems.

Kirsty applies this systems-focused approach to tackling food waste—helping organizations uncover practical opportunities to save money while reducing their environmental impact. Her work is grounded in turning big-picture sustainability goals into clear, actionable steps. She specializes in showing how small, consistent changes—whether in purchasing, storage, or waste separation—can lead to meaningful results for both your bottom line and the planet.

Driven by a strong connection to the natural environment, Kirsty is passionate about helping businesses play a role in protecting the ecosystems that make Whistler unique. Through her work with AWARE, she supports the local community in making practical, measurable changes that contribute to a more sustainable future.


Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation Policy: Payment is non-refundable for cancellations made within three business days of the event, or non-attendance on the day. If you have registered and paid for an event or training, you will be automatically added to the attendance list. Photographs taken at the event may be used in marketing and promotional campaigns and messaging by the Chamber.