Get to know: Shannon Friday - Zero Waste Coordinator

What does your role at Squamish CAN involve?

The Zero Waste Manager oversees Zero Waste Initiatives. We have a couple of key areas that we focus on: reducing recycling contamination through curbside audits, partnering with the District of Squamish to run redistribution events like the Re-Use-It Fair, and commercial waste audits to help businesses and multi-family homes streamline their landfill and recycling systems. 

What do you love most about working at Squamish CAN?

Our team and volunteers are awesome! It’s so heartwarming to see so many talented people working together to build a more resilient community in the face of climate change.

What impact do you hope to make through your work? 

Short term I would LOVE to get an extra year or two before we need to expand the local landfill. If we can get organics out of the waste stream, we can do it! Long term, I’d like to build on our redistribution events to promote more sharing of tools, materials, clothes, and everything else locally.

What’s your favorite outdoor place that reminds you why this work matters?

One of my favorite outdoor spots is down by the river at Fisherman’s Park. It’s such a constantly changing area, affected enormously from year-to-year by floods and rainfall patterns. I also think about the Whistler alpine a lot. It’s my partner’s favorite place, and he’s seen huge changes in how long it is open, snow conditions, and avalanche patterns since we moved here. It has a huge impact on his quality of life.

If your job was a weather pattern, what would it be and why? 

What’s a sustainable swap or hack you swear by? 

I love counting things. So often, we have things sitting around that we don’t realize we could use, and wind up buying unnecessary replacements. For example, I did a closet audit last year - just counted how many items of clothing I own. I was shocked to find I had 24 t-shirts! I haven’t bought another t-shirt since, and have spent time using up some of the unloved ones instead. Since it takes 2,600 liters of water to make a t-shirt, it’s a simple act that can have big water impacts! We often think of climate solutions as doing more or finding a new, more efficient thing, but just using up what we have can be so much more impactful than we realize.

Shannon Friday - Zero Waste Coordinator

Shannon Friday (she/they) has been a member of Squamish CAN since moving to the area in 2018, helping out with Repair Cafes and the Re-Use-It Fair and having a downtown community garden plot. She is excited to be the Zero Waste Coordinator because it combines a passion for recognizing diverse skills like mending and repair, community exchange, and spreading the word about how to save our planet! Before moving to Squamish, Shannon lived in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to founding a theatre company, Shannon worked as the manager of a TimeBank, a community organization that facilitates skill sharing throughout a community. Shannon lives with their partner James, their two adorable and perfect cats, McTavish and Flick, and a rotating door of visiting pets.

shannon@squamishcan.net

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