Date: May 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST / 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Local governments in Canada are moving from pilots to policy as they commit to scaling up reuse systems. Join us to hear how the Town of Banff, the City of Toronto, and the City of Victoria are implementing policy solutions to accelerate the adoption of reusable alternatives for food and beverage containers. Our speakers will demonstrate how their innovative solutions can be implemented in communities of all sizes - and in different contexts ranging from neighborhood dining to tourism hot spots. How did they overcome challenges and what were their key successes? What are the implications for investment, business revenue, or infrastructure development? And what advice would these local governments have for others looking to follow their lead, as we scale reuse across Canada?
Speakers:
Carla Bitz, Environmental Coordinator, Town of Banff
Carla coordinates the Town of Banff’s reuse & single-use item reduction initiatives, which support the Town’s goal to divert 70% of waste by 2028 and ultimately send zero waste to landfill. As a municipality situated within Canada’s first National Park and UNESCO world heritage site, Banff faces both unique challenges and opportunities in striving to become a model environmental community.
Erwin Pascual, Manager, Solid Waste Policy and Planning, Solid Waste Management Services, City of Toronto
Erwin Pascual is the Manager of Solid Waste Policy & Planning at the City of Toronto, where he leads the development of policies and long-term strategies that support and encourage waste reduction and diversion. He and his staff are currently working on the City’s Long-term Waste Management Strategy: Reduction and Diversion Plan Update, the Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy and waste composition audits.
Erwin has over 28 years of experience working for municipal government, with 20 of those years in solid waste management. He is a Professional Engineer with Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Engineering degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto.
Marika Smith, Lead, Solid Waste Reduction, Engineering and Public Works, City of Victoria
Marika Smith is the Lead for Solid Waste Reduction for the City of Victoria’s Zero Waste Team, where she leads the single-use items reduction and reuse policy work. She has a background in industrial compost science and microplastics contamination in soil systems, with additional certifications in behavioural science as it applies to waste reduction.
Moderator:
- Denise Philippe, Senior Policy Advisor, National Zero Waste Council / Metro Vancouver