Mayor's Report - April 2009

An operations analysis of the compactor and recycling facility for 2008 has again provided some very interesting statistics. Last year Belcarra residents generated 418,667 pounds (209.3 tons) of refuse and 199,272 pounds (99.6 tons) of recyclables. This was a total waste stream of 593,575 pounds (296.8 tons) for 2008.

The volume of waste for 2008 equates to 1,777 pounds per household, which is 5% lower than last year, but 18% more than the “low” of 1,500 pounds per household disposed in 1995! There has been considerable “abuse” of Belcarra’s refuse and recycle facilities by residents dropping-off non-permitted items such as appliances, mattresses, sofas, chairs and other unwanted furniture, car batteries, car tires, old paint cans and used motor oil.

The Metro Vancouver residential sector generates approximately 700 lbs per capita. By comparison, Belcarra’s 700 residents generated 848 lbs per capita in 2008. Although it would appear that Belcarra residents generate 20% more solid waste per capita than the GVRD average, I interpret these statistics as probable confirmation that garbage is being “imported” into Belcarra for disposal! As a result, controlled access to the refuse and recycle facility is being implemented this year to address the problem.

Overall, the Metro Vancouver residential sector recycles 41% of its solid waste, compared to the 33.6% recycled in Belcarra during 2008, and Belcarra’s ‘high’ of 36% recycled in 2007. One reason for the decrease in 2008 may be a reduction in electronic waste recycling, which commenced in 2007. In other words, there most likely was less electronic waste “waiting” to be recycled in 2008 compared to 2007.

Further analysis shows that it cost $181 per ton to transport and dispose of the garbage, compared to $149 per ton in 2007, and only $92 per ton to transport and process the recyclables. Waste disposal costs are rapidly increasing, and it is therefore imperative that Belcarra increase the percentage diverted to recycling in order to control the overall cost. Recycling currently saves the community $90 per ton; therefore, the obvious conclusion is:

We can only improve our recycling effort with the total involvement and support of the users of the system; that is, the residents of Belcarra. The cost of garbage disposal will continue to increase in the coming years, and there will be an increased price to pay if we don’t continue to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

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