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Sunshine Coast's Gibsons Recycling Depot has received the Best Green Business Award for BC from Small Business BC. They were among winners across the Province in the Successful You Awards Contest. Gibsons Recycling Depot, owned by Buddy Boyd and Barb Hetherington, is a leader in environmental practices. "This award recognizes the business that best demonstrates an outstanding commitment to energy and sustainability through leadership and actions that proactively influence green practices with evidence of long-term commitment to energy conservation and waste reduction, " said Barb Hetherington. "I believe from the feedback we received from the judges they were extremely impressed with our business very actively taking the lead and being a role-model not only locally but globally. GRD is ground breaking, often being a first with solutions, these not only include solutions for our discards but conservation solutions. We are an example of what is possible with commitment and determination."
Gibsons Recycling Depot was the first in BC to offer a children’s car seat recycling service. They also raise community awareness, advocate Zero Waste, offer training and jobs to individuals with special needs, incorporate socially responsible business practices, and donate salvaged materials to charities for fundraising. They also made news recently by adding an electric van for recycling pickup:GRD Electric Van. Another planned innovation is the installation of solar panels at their business that will feed back into the grid.
Hetherington says, "We believe that Zero Waste is possible and that by recognizing that discards are resources we can create employment and well-being for the future.
The real message is here is a little business that against all odds is doing something to make the world better so if we can- everyone can."
"This award means as a "green" business and as environmentalists we can continue to stand up and fight for the future of our planet with possibily a slightly higher profile. As a business and Zero Waste advocates, we can showcase solutions," said Hetherington. "Certainly we hope that our community share and benefit in this great honour. We love our community."
Gibsons Recycling Depot proved their excellence during the course of a rigorous five-month contest. In order to be named among the best in B.C., they had to gain votes from the public to be shortlisted to the top ten, then submit an extended application detailing why they deserved to win. Once selected as a top five finalist, they then went on to face a panel of judges, pitching their cases as to why they should be named B.C.’s best.
The businesses that received Successful You Awards included:
- Best Company: ReStoring Data Inc., Vancouver
- Best Concept: Western Industrial Solutions and TaskSafe, Kamloops
- Best Employer: Chris’s Sign & Lighting Service Inc., Langley
- Best Green Business: Gibsons Recycling Depot, Gibsons
- Best Online Marketer: ethicalDeal, Vancouver
- Best Community Impact: Lunapads International, Vancouver
The Successful You Awards Contest is hosted annually by Small Business BC to celebrate the top small businesses from across British Columbia. Small Business BC is a premier resource centre, providing entrepreneurs in B.C. with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business.
Winning a Successful You Award can serve as a launching point for many small businesses offering recognition, raising awareness and creating opportunities for exposure. Nominations for the Successful You Awards will open again on October 1, 2013; all businesses in B.C. are encouraged to participate at successful you