Each year the Recycling Council of BC (RCBC) hosts a celebration recognizing the valuable contributions made by individuals and organizations towards the preservation and protection of British Columbia’s environment. This year, Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) was awarded the 2017 Public Sector Environmental Award for continued efforts in reducing environmental impacts.

If you’re a regular Buzzer Blog reader, it is likely no surprise to you that TransLink and its subsidiaries have taken part in a host of environmentally-focused projects in the past. CMBC in particular has shifted gears to reduce their impact on the environment through some innovative and creative initiatives.

Operator Uniform Recycling

CMBC works with a textile recycling company to collect and process old used Transit Operator uniforms, re-purposing them into rags to be used around the workplace. This initiative was born through the help of the environmental committee at Vancouver Transit Centre.

Idle Free CMBC

In an effort to reduce unnecessary idling from vehicles and to limit harmful greenhouse gas emissions, CMBC introduced the “Idle Free CMBC” program in 2010. This idling reduction policy alone has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1.5 million kgs.

Smart Buses

CMBC continues to make efforts to reduce their environmental footprint through more environmentally friendly bus technologies. This past Earth Day saw 26 hybrid-diesel buses, which use 17 per cent less fuel, added to the fleet. In fact, half of the entire bus fleet currently uses cleaner technology!

Other environmental efforts include switching from chemical cleaning products to biodegradable ones, recovering spilled bus fluids through trapping hoods in stormwater catch basins, and utilizing a water recycling system for exterior bus washing, reducing water usage by 75 per cent.

Driving innovation is one of the ways TransLink is realizing its commitment to environmental responsibility. To learn more about our environmental policies, visit our website.

Author: Sarah Kertcher