Feedback on this plan is accepted until August 1st! Please send in your feedback.
Metro Vancouver is finishing its solid waste management plan. The feedback submitted on the draft plan did not result in many changes but feedback sent now on this final version will also go to the Minister of Environment and Parks who has to approve the plan. Feedback can be provided to the plan until August 1st. We are very concerned that this draft plan is missing key elements.
Why this matters
A Zero Waste approach means less garbage, less pollution, and a system that is healthier and more affordable for everyone.
We encourage you to submit your own feedback. You can see the final plan here and you can email your comments to zerowaste@metrovancouver.org. Please copy the Minister at env.minister@gov.bc.ca and you can info@zerowastebc.ca if you wish.
Possible feedback to consider sending to Metro Vancouver
Here are the key concerns from a Zero Waste view that you can copy and paste into an email or reword as you see fit:
- Use the Zero Waste Hierarchy and definition in the Solid Waste Management Plan. A clear peer-reviewed definition and hierarchy will drive progressive action. Eliminate the goals for recovery in favour or more work on reduction.
- Set ambitious targets to match those of the Capital Regional District or Regional District of Nanaimo. Targets should be for waste generation reduction and diversion (meaning recycling and composting, not burning of material). Targets should be set for five years (2032) and ten years (2037) and not only in the future beyond the time frame of the plan.
- Commit to phasing out the Burnaby incinerator. This 38 year old facility is aging and will require significant capital upgrades and maintenance if it is not retired as most incinerators close at 25-30 years. Over $400 million of capital costs have been forecast in Metro Vancouver budgets. The waste burner is also one of the top 25 point sources of GHGs in the whole province and a key emitter of other pollutants such as dioxins, mercury, cadmium, lead, acid gases and NOx. Dioxins have been found in high concentrations on the incinerator roof and nearby rooftops. It is neither cleaner than landfills nor cheaper and is a roadblock to reducing waste. Firmly commit to not building or using any new incineration or thermal treatment facilities.
- Invest in zero waste solutions instead such as redesign, reduce, repair, reuse, composting and recycling. Ensure the plan actions are beyond just testing, encouraging and piloting to be more active such as implement, enact, develop, etc. Actions should include:
- Waste prevention such as cutting unnecessary packaging and preventing food waste.
- Reuse and Repair -making it easier so unusable items do not get thrown out.
- Recycling and Composting -enhancing programs to be simple and consistent to ensure clean materials are captured properly. Multifamily, business, institutions, industry and construction locations need to have better programs and services.
- Reducing toxicity -include actions to decrease the use of toxic materials as well as the emission of toxic pollution
- Enforcing and enhancing existing bans with more inspections, a requirement for clean bags and mandatory source separation.
- Measure and work to reduce the climate footprint of materials by including consumption-based emissions on the planning and proposed actions.
- Establish and commit to a timeline for the actions and the associated budget to ensure the plan can be implemented.
- Pledge to be transparent – report waste performance clearly so the public can see what is working. Do not call burning of waste recycling or diversion as burning waste creates pollution and ash and should be treated as disposal.
- Spend money wisely and invest in the future- choose solutions that reduce waste without locking the region into expensive disposal systems.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this.