Light House has launched a new initiative aimed at diverting and upcycling plastic waste from approximately 10 Metro Vancouver construction sites. The pilot program, The Construction Plastics Initiative, is running now until February 2026 and is actively seeking projects to bring on board.

The objective of the initiative is to demonstrate the feasibility and financial viability of a circular economic model for plastic waste generated on construction sites. The intention is to collect, separate, measure and process plastics from construction sites to determine the amount and types of plastic waste being generated in British Columbia’s construction sector and to demonstrate circular economic solutions to divert and repurpose the plastic into new products. Project participants will be able to showcase their leadership by pioneering plastic diversion and using the locally manufactured building products in their projects.

Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive studies in North America quantifying the volume of construction plastic waste directed to landfills. Studies from Europe suggest approximately 80 per cent of plastic waste from on-site construction activities consists of clean packaging materials, which are readily divertible from landfills.

“This pilot project aims to provide valuable insights into the extent of construction plastic pollution in North America and to identify opportunities for circular innovation in managing construction plastics,” said Gil Yaron, managing director, Circular Innovation, Light House. “In Canada right now, virtually all of the plastic generated on these construction sites is ending up in landfill or being buried on site. We’re bringing partners together through the construction plastic value chain, developing a management framework to collect, monitor and track the flow of materials, and we’re exploring the business case and sale of derivative building products back into the construction sector.”

Collected plastics from all projects will be processed by Ocean Park Recycling before being recycled into a reusable plastic pellet, which will be integrated into the manufacturing of a range of new building products. The pilot program will help developers and general contractors reduce material use and the embodied carbon associated with their projects.

Through this initiative, Light House is not only reducing the environmental impact of construction but also preparing the industry for the federal government’s upcoming plastics registry reporting requirements in 2026—helping to set a new standard for sustainability in construction.

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