Louise Schwartz and Robert Weatherbe
Louise Schwartz and Robert Weatherbe have been eco-pioneers since 1989.Co-owners of Recycling Alternative, a company that began advocating environmental action long before Vancouver had ever seen a Blue Box, Louise and Robert have helped transform Vancouver into the increasingly green society it is today.
Spurred by a desire to go zero-waste, and the increasing demand for ecologically smarter and cheaper fuels, Louise and Robert decided to open their own biodiesel pump.
“About five years ago we started to look at our carbon footprint,” says Robert. “We realized that [petroleum-derived] diesel was a downside and that we had to do something about our emissions.”
The filling station, which opened June 21 at 360 Industrial Ave. (near Science World), is the only place you can get 100 per cent biodiesel in the city (other biodiesels are blended with fossil fuels). Biodiesel boasts many positives: it reduces your diesel car’s greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 90 per cent, it’s made from waste-stream products such as used vegetable oil, and producing it does not consume agricultural land like other biofuels such as corn-based ethanol.
“Our product is about taking matter out of the waste stream and reducing emissions,” explains Louise. “We are committed to using recycled bio-waste—it fits with our mandate.”
What’s more, there’s no need to overhaul your car’s diesel engine to make it compatible with biodiesel. And, biodiesel is exempt from the carbon tax.
Having long believed that everyone needs to work toward a sustainable environment, Louise and Robert are more than happy to give Vancouver drivers a boost in the right direction.
“Making the right choice doesn’t have to be difficult,” they say.
—Tara Thorne
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