Mayor's Report - September 2006

Recycling has been part of our daily lives in Belcarra for more than 10 years now, but there are changes taking place that Belcarra residents need to consider. Regional solid waste facilities now levy penalties on “contaminated” deliveries — penalties for contamination of either recycle materials or refuse destined for the land fill. Penalties due to contaminated refuse or recyclables increase the operating costs of Belcarra’s waste disposal system.

Most people realize that cardboard, wood, gyproc, garden waste, and hazardous materials such as paint and batteries are considered to be “contaminates” when found in refuse destined for land fill. (Within 12 months, all types of electronic waste will also be considered “contaminates”.) If our recycle bins are found to contain unacceptable “contaminates”, then we experience “double jeopardy” — both the value of the recyclables rebated to the municipality is lost and the municipality has to pay a $65 per ton tip fee for disposal of the contaminated recyclables to land fill. You may recall that Belcarra almost lost the ability to have our recycled materials processed due to contamination of our recyclables! It is therefore imperative that we achieve proper separation of designated recyclables for all of Belcarra’s solid waste.

With the installation of the security cameras and digital recorder in late June, accompanied by the distribution of the information brochure on recycling, the community appears to be more conscientious and disciplined about respecting the facility and making best efforts to recycle. As a result, Belcarra’s recycle site and compactors are no longer overfilled or loaded with unauthorized materials; the net effect is that more room is available for “legitimate materials”. This translates into a cleaner and more convenient drop-off site, and reduced staff time to sort-out contaminates.

A quick review of our deliveries for landfill disposal show that prior to installation of the security cameras, Belcarra disposed of 50,000 lbs of waste over a two-month period. Since the installation of the security cameras, the amount of waste to landfill has reduced to 48,000 lbs over a two-month period. Granted, it appears to be a reduction of only 1,000 lbs per month, but 12,000 lbs per year is still a lot of solid waste!

In anticipation of a ban on electronic waste disposal to landfill sites in the fall of 2007, Belcarra has secured the equipment and arranged for a recycle processor to begin receiving electronic waste at our recycle facility. Diverting electronic waste from the landfill will reduce our tip fees as we will not have to pay for recycling of electronic waste. Total operating costs are expected to be reduced, plus Belcarra’s “percentage recycled” figure will raise toward GVRD’s recycle goals. If you consider the type of electronic waste that will be diverted from the landfill — cell phones, computers, monitors, TVs, microwave ovens, electric tools and motors, electric stoves and other appliances, stereos, lighting, etc. — we will both reduce tip fees and remove hazardous materials from the regions landfill sites.

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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