December 2025

collecting glass bottles/jars (often in separate bins or depots) to be crushed into "cullet," melted, and reformed into new products like bottles, insulation, or road paint, saving energy and resources

From Waste to Weight-Bearing: How Glass Can Build a Local Circular Economy

Leave a Comment / Circular Economy Series /

In most recycling systems, glass gets a rough deal. It’s heavy, expensive to transport, and often down-cycled into low-value uses — or worse, it ends up in the landfill. But in communities like Diamond Valley, Alberta, that weight becomes an advantage when we rethink glass as a local resource, not waste. Right now, municipalities and […]

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Looking West along Sunset Blvd. in winter

Diamond Valley — 2025 Council Record on Planning

Leave a Comment / Council Debriefs /

A Sustainability-Focused Synopsis Why Planning Matters in a Sustainability Context At the municipal level, planning is the bridge between long-term sustainability goals and day-to-day decisions. It is where climate risk, water security, housing form, infrastructure capacity, and fiscal reality are meant to converge before capital dollars are spent or land is committed. A review of

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buildings save energy and water, improve comfort, reduce long-term costs, and shape healthier communities

What Is LEED — and Why It Matters to Everyday Life

Leave a Comment / LEED /

If you’ve ever heard the term LEED and wondered “Is that just an environmental label?” or “Does that affect me at all?” — you’re not alone. LEED shows up in conversations about new buildings, municipal projects, schools, and even housing developments. Yet for something that quietly influences how our communities are built, it’s often poorly

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Dec 17 Council Agenda — Sustainability Lens Assessment

Leave a Comment / Council Debrief Series /

Big Picture Summary The Dec 17 agenda is heavily budget-centred, and as such it represents one of the most consequential sustainability decision points of the year. Overall, Council is making several strong moves toward fiscal and infrastructure resilience, particularly around water, waste, and flood mitigation, while simultaneously reducing soft capacity (community programs, communications, outreach) that

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The following analysis looks at the meeting through the lens of sustainability, good governance, circular economy, and community well-being.

Council Meeting Sustainability Analysis – December 3, 2025

Leave a Comment / Council Debrief Series /

A public-facing review of how Council’s decisions align with sustainability, community resilience, and long-term stewardship.Based on the December 3, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda Package 1. Overview The December 3 Council Meeting focused heavily on financial housekeeping, governance, and core municipal services—with several items that connect directly to Diamond Valley’s sustainability trajectory. Although no major environmental

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Recycled materials play a crucial role in reducing waste, conserving resources, and lowering carbon footprints.

From Recycling Myths to Local Solutions

Leave a Comment / Circular Economy Series, Newsletter, Sustainability Manual /

The post discusses the complexities of recycling in small communities, emphasizing that merely placing items in green bins doesn’t ensure sustainability. It presents the idea of transforming waste into local resources through initiatives like the Sustainable Living Centre, which fosters innovation and job creation while encouraging a circular economy.

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