Mayor's Report - February 2006

An operations analysis of the compactor and recycling facilities for 2005 has again provided some very interesting statistics. Last year Belcarra residents generated 404,340 pounds (202.2 tons) of refuse and 171,820 pounds (85.9 tons) of recyclables. This was a total waste stream of 576,160 pounds (288.1 tons) for 2005.

It is interesting to note that the volume of waste for 2005 equates to 1,735 pounds per household, which is slightly less than last year, but 16% more than the “low” of 1,500 pounds per household disposed in 1995! The question is: “Why has the waste per household been ‘fluctuating’ in recent years?” One reason is that 90% of accessory suites in the Village are now paying their annual garbage disposal fee, which probably accounts for the apparent decrease in waste disposed on a per household basis in 2005. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that unauthorized use of Belcarra’s refuse and recycle facilities is the culprit — residents have observed persons from neighbouring areas bringing their garbage to Belcarra!

In 1999 the GVRD residential sector generated 738,656 tons (671,505 tonnes) of solid waste which equates to 702 lbs per capita. By comparison, Belcarra’s 700+ residents generated a total of 288.1 tons of solid waste in 2005 which equates to 823 lbs per capita of which 30% was recycled. In other words, it would appear that Belcarra residents generated 16% more solid waste per capita in 2005 than the GVRD average. I interpret these statistics as probable confirmation that garbage is being “imported” into Belcarra for disposal!

The proportion of waste recycled in 2005 accounted for 30% of the total, which is close to the ‘high’ of 31% recycled in 1999. Further analysis shows that it cost $113 per ton to transport and dispose of the garbage, and only $67 per ton to transport and process the recyclables. While 30% is commendable, GVRD data for 2004 indicate that the overall residential sector throughout the region recycles 45% of their waste. It is therefore clear that Belcarra can achieve further increases in the percentage diverted to recycling, thereby appreciably reducing our volume of garbage to landfill while also controlling garbage disposal costs.
For further information regarding garbage disposal in the Tri-Cities, see The Business of Garbage and The Business of Recycling.

When Belcarra’s recycling program began in 1990, processing recyclables actually cost a “premium” over garbage disposal costs. However, by the start of 1994, the cost of processing recyclables had decreased to $69 per ton, the same cost as the “tip fee” at the regional landfills. Today, this means that recycling saves the community $65 per ton! The obvious conclusion: the more waste diverted to recycling, the lower the total cost of waste disposal for Belcarra.

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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