Feedback on this plan is accepted until February 20th! Please send in your feedback.
Metro Vancouver is finally updating is solid waste management plan. These plans are meant to be updated every ten years so this update to the 2011 plan is long overdue. Feedback can be provided to the plan until February 20th. Zero Waste BC members sit on the Public Technical Advisory Committee and have been providing input since 2022 but 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 draft plan here and you can email your comments to zerowaste@metrovancouver.org. Feel free to copy 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. 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.
People can also chime in on Metro Vancouver’s online discussion board or sign our petition to close the incinerator.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this.