Our Sheet Metal Environmental Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Training (E.R.T.) Project continues to promote environmental stewardship by training apprentices to reduce waste, reuse materials and recycle sheet metal.
In its second year (2025–26), the project trained 272 Sheet Metal and Architectural Sheet Metal apprentices. To date, more than 200 Sheet Metal apprentices have also completed SkillPlan’s online Building It Green (BIG) Foundations course.
Through our partnership with Skills Ready and the Construction Foundation of BC, more than 1,000 youth have participated in hands-on workshops using recycled scrap metal to build toolboxes, copper bracelets and other projects. These activities introduce environmental practices while creating awareness of sheet metal as a career choice for the next generation.
E.R.T. participants shared how the training is influencing their work:
“I always use offcuts before full sheets and reduce waste by planning first.”
“Being more conscious about how I use material and always on the lookout for ways to reduce and reuse material when possible.”
“Explain the importance of recycling to younger apprentices.”
As we enter the third and final year, SMWTCS will continue to build apprentices’ environmental skills, promote sustainable practices and strengthen environmental stewardship across the sheet metal industry.
