Thinking for the Future:

The Possibility of Zero Waste
in the Regional District of Nanaimo

Our Current Situation

As everyone knows, waste has not always been seen as the burden and potential danger it is now. But over time, as public consciousness of the negative effects of traditional waste disposal grew, policy makers realized it was time to make changes to the traditional systems of waste management, and in 1989 a goal of 50% waste diversion from landfills in BC was set for the year 2000. Many communities throughout British Columbia have failed to meet this goal, but the impact of setting the bar so high has been significant. Those who once scoffed at the very idea of such significant waste reduction are now seeing a 50% diversion rate met and surpassed in new areas each year.

Nanaimo itself has seen tremendous improvement over time. With a diversion rate hovering in the 40-45% range for the past few years, 2000 saw it climb over 50% for the first time. The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Solid Waste Management department (herein referred to as the RDN) has achieved great success through its waste reduction programs. One of the most significant changes was the move to a one can per week limit on garbage collection, which has proved to be attainable and convenient for residents. This is an impressive achievement in comparison to West Vancouver’s six can limit, or Toronto’s eight.

The implementation of curbside recycling collection (taking the form of yellow and blue bag programs throughout the district) has made tremendous progress in removing recyclables from the waste stream. In conjunction with the recycling industry, non-profits, and composting programs, the recycling rate for the year 2000 reached a high of 47%, amounting to almost 50, 000 tonnes of material (see appendix 1: Solid Waste Disposal and Diversion).

The RDN’s most recent coup has been the implementation of a user-pay garbage system, in which the majority of disposal subsidies have been eradicated. It provides an accurate reflection of the costs associated with disposal of each material, recyclables being accepted at a lower rate and hazardous materials requiring a much higher tipping fee (charge for disposal). This has been done in an effort to communicate the true cost of disposal to the waste producers, in the hopes that it will prove a deterrent to waste generation and act as an incentive to reduction. In addition, strategic bans on landfilling selected materials have been put in place, providing strict penalties for the disposal of certain valuable recyclable commodities, such as cardboard and metals.

Probably the largest motivation for waste reduction that can be offered is the Regional District’s decision to move to a waste export system upon closure of the current landfill site. With uncertainty as to the remaining life span of the landfill, and the assurance that it would need to be closed in the near future due to diminishing capacity, the RDN began a search for a new landfill site within it’s boundaries. After a great deal of research, and the consideration of many possible sites, the NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) phenomenon (which refers to resident’s opposition of any site near their dwelling), economic, and ecological concerns rendered each one undesirable. Thus, the decision was made that the lifespan of the current landfill would be extended as much as possible through reduction and partial waste export. Upon closure of the landfill the RDN would move to a full waste-export system in which all solid waste would be shipped for disposal to Cache Creek, in the interior of BC.

Considering the rising cost of fuel, this decision promises to make the traditional system of waste disposal extremely expensive within the regional district. No longer will residents of the RDN be able to set out our garbage cans at the end of each week, instantly forgetting that their contents ever existed. Hopefully this change will help to create the paradigm shift that is necessary to move towards a more sustainable system. No longer will we be satisfied with only half as much garbage, the RDN will take the steps necessary to ensure that they are leaders in the movement towards zero waste.

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