Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News
The Gabriola Island Recycling Organization (GIRO) will be receiving $215,000 from the BC Government’s CleanBC Plastics Action Fund.
Michelle Kresnyak, General Manager for GIRO, says the funding will be used to design and install a ventilation unit in the ‘shred’ room.
Once installed, the ventilation will be used to capture the textile dust during shredding, to close in the shredding machine from the operator to minimize dust exposure, and to de-dust the shred to minimize dust levels in the final product.
The ventilation unit will also eliminate the risk of combustion from textile dust during shredding.
A portion of the funding will also be used to upgrade the shredding machine motor.
The need for these modifications were identified during GIRO’s initial shredding operation activities in 2024.
Throuh the CleanBC fund, he B.C. government is providing more than $8 million to businesses, foundations, and First Nations to develop creative and effective ways to repair, reuse and recycle plastics into new products to reduce waste.
“People in B.C. want to live in clean, healthy communities free from waste,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “These projects are finding new and creative ways to make this a reality, while bringing more jobs to communities and supporting local economies throughout the province.”
The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund is designed to support projects that prevent and reduce plastic waste in B.C.
Launched in 2020, the fund has invested more than $35 million into projects that find creative solutions to help reduce plastic waste in communities. In 2025, B.C. is funding 34 new projects, with 63 projects receiving funding in previous years. The first two phases of the Plastics Action Fund created more than 240 direct long-term, full-time jobs, with more on the way in Phase 3.
“The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund has helped us develop a high-capacity washing facility for reusable foodware, creating new ways to support cities in moving away from single-use packaging,” said Cody Irwin, founder and CEO of ShareWares. “We’ve also been able to serve major clients, such as festivals, stadiums and event venues – key anchors in the shift toward low-waste communities. This funding has empowered us to lead the transition to sustainable reuse programs across Metro Vancouver and beyond.”
Two projects – including GIRO – are being funded within MLA Sheila Malcolmson’s riding.
The Deconstructors in Nanaimo will receive $495,000 for a project involving the use of AI for sorting waste.
“We’ve been working together to reduce, reuse and recycle to protect the environment,” says Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo – Gabriola Island. “These Nanaimo and Gabriola projects will tackle plastic pollution in innovative ways, and I’m grateful to the Deconstructors and GIRO for making these projects come to life.”
Of the projects funded in this round, 14 of 34 are Indigenous-led, with recipients from the Indigenous Projects category receiving more than $1.5 million. This brings the total funding for Indigenous Projects from the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund to more than $3.7 million across 31 projects.
Projects receiving funding this year include expanding the use of reusable cups at large events, textile and medical-supply recycling, installation of industrial dishwashers in community spaces to reduce single-use dinnerware, zero-waste cleaning supplies, refill and zero-waste store expansions, and construction-waste sorting services, as well as other innovative and unique projects.
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