Mayor's Report - May 2010

An operations analysis of the recycle and refuse facility for 2009 has again provided some very interesting statistics. Last year Belcarra residents generated 375,320 lbs (187.7 tons) of refuse and 156,433 lbs (78.2 tons) of recyclables. This was a total waste stream of 517,928 lbs (259.0 tons) for 2009 --- 37.8 tons less than 2008 and the lowest amount of refuse in 10 years!

On a household basis, this equates to 1,501 lbs per household --- 15% less than 2008. On a population basis, this equates to 740 lbs per capita --- substantially lower than previous years, and closer to the Metro Vancouver residential sector average of 700 lbs per capita. I interpret the data as probable confirmation that garbage was being "imported" into Belcarra for disposal, and that controlled access to the recycle and refuse facility is addressing the problem. We will have a clearer picture when we analyse the statistics for 2010 after a full year of controlled access to the recycle and refuse facility.

During 2009 Belcarra achieved a diversion rate of 30% to recycle, compared to the Metro Vancouver single-family residential sector which currently achieves a diversion rate of 46% to recycle. Knowing that many Belcarra households diligently sort their solid waste for recycle, it appears that there are still some households that can do more to divert recyclable materials away from landfill. The bottom-line is that the more waste diverted to recycle, the lower the total cost of solid waste disposal, and the better it is for the environment!

Metro Vancouver residents are beginning to experience the true cost of disposing their solid waste. It cost $198 per ton to transport and dispose Belcarra's refuse in 2009, compared to $173 per ton in 2008. For 2010, Metro Vancouver's "tip fee" is increasing by 15% from $71 per ton to $82 per ton. However, what few people realize is that whenever deliveries of refuse are found to contain banned materials fines are imposed with the additional threat that future deliveries will be rejected. Similarly, whenever deliveries of recyclables are found to contain "contaminants", additional cost penalties are incurred. Even worse, however, is refusal by recycle processors to accept a delivery of contaminated recyclables --- which Belcarra has experienced! What do you do with a bin full of contaminated recyclables that are also deemed "banned materials" for landfill disposal?

Most people are aware that there has been considerable "abuse" of Belcarra's recycle and refuse facility by residents and non-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. Such behaviour also results in added costs, which is why the municipality is now imposing fines.

As we embark on yet another chapter of Belcarra's solid waste reduction strategy, it is important to appreciate how far we have progressed over the past 30 years. Moving from a few 4-yard dumpsters dispersed through the Village to a single 40-yard compactor at our present facility was considered a major step forward. However, the evolving requirement to do more has led, over the years, to additional compactors and recycle strategies to provide enhanced opportunities for Belcarra residents to reduce household refuse.

It has been more than 10 years since the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) established its goal of 50% solid waste diversion by 2010 --- today the region has surpassed that target. A decade ago Belcarra had to 'look deeper' to help reach those goals, but GVRD's then visionary waste reduction strategy is now accepted 'best practice'. However, 50% is a minimal goal compared to Metro Vancouver's new 'Zero Waste' strategy. The installation of site access controls, a new refuse and recycle bylaw, and education and enforcement strategies, are all necessary to take us forward in our waste reduction goals. In other words, Belcarra's recycle and refuse facility has evolved to help make us more sustainable.

We can only improve our recycling efforts 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 our efforts to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

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