NEWS

Discover the latest news from SOMA, our clients, relevant industries and beyond.

How confusion and inconvenience are filling B.C. landfills with recyclable plastics
Client News sarah . Client News sarah .

How confusion and inconvenience are filling B.C. landfills with recyclable plastics

The organization behind B.C.'s recycling system wants residents to do more to keep plastics from going to landfills or ending up as litter — as only 45 per cent of plastic packaging used by residents is recovered for recycling.

"There's been a lot of hesitancy around recycling, but our model proves that you can have a system that responsibly manages and recycles these plastics," said Sam Baker, executive director of Recycle B.C.

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Pitching in: Cleaning up the ocean to preserve nature in B.C.
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

Pitching in: Cleaning up the ocean to preserve nature in B.C.

Chloe Dubois and her partner James Middleton were watching a documentary several years ago about the plight of albatrosses on the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, a collection of islands that have become a collection point for mountains of plastic waste.

The couple were living on a boat in British Columbia at the time and their lives revolved around sea life. He was a boat captain and she worked in environment and resource management.

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Canucks: B.C. cancer initiative hits home for Kirk and Genevieve McLean
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

Canucks: B.C. cancer initiative hits home for Kirk and Genevieve McLean

One in two British Columbians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, so ensuring specialists and superior resources are present to combat the disease is of paramount importance. VGH is the largest and most advanced hospital in the province, but there is an urgent need to expand capacity to better address cancer cases.

The campaign has a goal of raising $35 million to produce treatments for patients across B.C. The initiative aligns with the provincial government’s 10-year Cancer Action Plan announced in 2023. Community support and donations are also essential to help deliver world-class care and drive the next generation of cancer-fighting technology and treatments.

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There's a new way for Yukon residents to recycle household hazardous waste
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

There's a new way for Yukon residents to recycle household hazardous waste

There is a new way for Yukoners to recycle certain household hazardous waste, after Interchange Recycling opened a new collection site at the Whitehorse waste management facility on Friday.

The site accepts lubricating oil, antifreeze, diesel exhaust fluid, oil filters and all automotive containers. 

Interchange has partnered with local company KBL Environment to operate the new site. After KBL collects the material, it will be shipped to processors outside of the territory.

Jenn Robson, the director of operations at Interchange Recycling, said the new collection site will ensure hazardous materials are disposed of responsibly.

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AI for Grid as Canada’s New Superpower
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

AI for Grid as Canada’s New Superpower

We’re in the era when energy underpins economic progress and competitive advantage. From integrating distributed renewables to energy storage, enabling electrified transportation to powering data centres, and powering remote microgrids to urban load centres, the electric grid has long been the backbone of industrial society. 

The next great Canadian innovation story won’t come from oil or minerals but from electrons, and more importantly, from the intelligence that controls how they flow. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as its brain, and clean, reliable, affordable energy as its heart, the smart grid is no longer a technical ambition. It’s an economic imperative.

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10th annual Cheer by the Pier 
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

10th annual Cheer by the Pier 

Family Services of the North Shore, the non-profit community-based agency committed to making a lasting impact across the North Shore, held their 10th annual Cheer by the Pier (formerly Beer by The Pier) event, presented by Darwin Properties Ltd. on June 14th, 2025. The event took place at the Pipe Shop Venue in the Shipyards, located at 115 Victory Ship  Way, North Vancouver, BC. All proceeds raised from the event go directly to supporting Family Services of the North Shore’s Child and Youth Mental Health programs. 

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OLF closes the loop on marine plastics with end-of-life fishing gear disposal program
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

OLF closes the loop on marine plastics with end-of-life fishing gear disposal program

Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), an organization accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and participant of marine plastic recovery and recycling, has launched the Marine Plastic Management Program (MPMP), an initiative designed to support British Columbia's fishing and aquaculture industry in responsibly managing fishing gear disposal while driving Canada's circular economy.

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Construction Plastics Initiative launches Freedom Mobile Arch and Steveston Community Centre Projects, advancing sustainable building practices in Metro Vancouver
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

Construction Plastics Initiative launches Freedom Mobile Arch and Steveston Community Centre Projects, advancing sustainable building practices in Metro Vancouver

Light House, an organization focused on advancing circular practices in the built environment, and their Construction Plastics Initiative, which launched in 2024 to capture, divert and upcycle plastic waste from Metro Vancouver construction sites, today announced two new construction project partners — the Freedom Mobile Arch in Vancouver, with general contractor EllisDon Corporation, and the Steveston Community Centre in Richmond, with general contractor Scott Construction. All plastic waste collected from projects involved ineCap the Construction Plastics Initiative are processed by Langley Plastics into a reusable plastic pellet, which is then integrated into the manufacturing of a range of new building products.

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What Can and Can't Be Recycled?
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

What Can and Can't Be Recycled?

Our client, Recycle BC, was recently featured on CTV News to teach viewers what can and cannot be recycled.

Common summer items used while camping or spending time outdoors, such as propane tanks, bear spray, and butane cans, should not be placed in blue curbside recycling bins. Visit recyclebc.ca/hazardous to find the best place to dispose of these items.

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North Vancouver girls’ team does Canada proud at international basketball tournament
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

North Vancouver girls’ team does Canada proud at international basketball tournament

VanCity Basketball Club, a North Vancouver-based youth basketball organization committed to developing confident, skilled, and community-minded athletes, announced today that its U13 girls’ team has claimed third place at the Taro Cup, an international youth basketball tournament held in Taipei, Taiwan from June 16–20, 2025. Representing Canada on the global stage, the VanCity athletes showcased exceptional talent, teamwork, and resilience as they competed against elite teams from across Asia and North America.

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Program helps construction industry reduce waste and carbon
Client News Harleen Kaur Client News Harleen Kaur

Program helps construction industry reduce waste and carbon

To help others do the same, Light House, a consulting company for green building, offers a program called the Circular Construction Accelerator, which helps construction-related businesses find better ways to operate.

Through the accelerator, businesses will get one-on-one help developing products, reducing waste, finding alternative sourcing of materials and enhancing growth.

“A circular built environment is grounded in three principles: eliminate waste through upstream design, optimize material use and lifecycle, and regenerate natural systems,” Gil Yaron, managing director, circular innovation, with Light House, said in a news release.

The Circular Construction Accelerator is supported by Pacific Economic Development Canada.

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Chilliwack students, Indigenous artists collaborate on bilingual music video
Client News sarah . Client News sarah .

Chilliwack students, Indigenous artists collaborate on bilingual music video

A group of Chilliwack students and Indigenous artists have come together to inspire environmental stewardship and reconciliation by way of a music video.

The song and video project titled “Step in the Right Direction” was released on May 22. Music students from Chilliwack, Sardis and G.W. Graham secondary schools collaborated with the Artist Response Team (ART), in partnership with Éy St’élmexw St’elt’ílém / Good Medicine Songs for the project.

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Research, programs improve film recycling access
Client News sarah . Client News sarah .

Research, programs improve film recycling access

Most Americans have access to a store drop-off site for film plastics, according to a new study by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.  

The findings come as The Recycling Partnership launches an initiative to expand film plastic recycling in California and the city of West Vancouver, British Columbia, prepares to start curbside flexible plastic collection.

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Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada
Client News Bridget Irwin Client News Bridget Irwin

Indigenous-led efforts bolster EPR collection in remote parts of Canada

Now, thanks to a new partnership agreement, IZWTAG will formally administer the First Nations Recycling Initiative. It’s an outreach and recycling program run by BC’s Stewardship Agencies of BC, a coalition of EPR organizations. The initiative raises awareness of BC’s EPR programs and supports local collection and recycling events for EPR-eligible items like electronics, large appliances and household hazardous waste.

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Active Impact Investments Holds $110-Million Final Close For Third Climate Tech Seed Fund
Client News sarah . Client News sarah .

Active Impact Investments Holds $110-Million Final Close For Third Climate Tech Seed Fund

Active Impact secured more than $70 million in initial commitments for the new fund back in November 2023 during a difficult period for fundraising.

At the time, Active Impact was targeting to close the fund with $120 million in early 2024.

In an email statement to BetaKit, founder and managing partner Mike Winterfield said that Active Impact is proud to more than double its assets under management (AUM) while its contemporaries are pausing raise plans. He added that the firm had the option for a six-month extension to reach its fundraise target, but decided they already had enough money to run their strategy. 

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BC recycler turning plastic waste into concrete supplement
Client News sarah . Client News sarah .

BC recycler turning plastic waste into concrete supplement

Light House, an organization focused on advancing circular practices in the built environment, and their Construction Plastics Initiative, which launched in 2024 to capture, divert and upcycle plastic waste from Metro Vancouver construction sites, today announced two new construction project partners — the Freedom Mobile Arch in Vancouver, with general contractor EllisDon Corporation, and the Steveston Community Centre in Richmond, with general contractor Scott Construction.

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