Thinking for the Future:

The Possibility of Zero Waste
in the Regional District of Nanaimo

Conclusion

Although the focus of this report has been on the reduction of municipal solid waste, it is important to remember that it is estimated to comprise only 2% of total waste production within North America (source). The rest is produced by industry, from extraction to processing to manufacture. In fact, a great deal of the waste associated with western consumption is created in other parts of the world, where the bulk of processing takes place. Thus, the real changes that need to be made are fundamental, and address the patterns of consumption that have become entrenched within our society. Only by reevaluating the emphasis placed on consumer goods can we create a society in which no waste is produced.

Nonetheless, in the same way that environmental movements advocate a "think globally, act locally" approach, we must begin to tackle our waste problems on a small scale, within our own community. The major battles we wage in this movement are psychological, attacking the mindset that fails to place a value on ecological and social well being, and measures economic prosperity in terms of the flow of capital without regard to the positive and negative impacts of that flow. For each person that is awakened to the reality of our situation, a lifetime of waste reduction measures is accomplished.

It is also important to emphasize the relative importance of reduction in relation to diversion. While diversion helps to alleviate the problems associated with disposal of waste, it does little to reduce the net extraction of resources and energy to fulfill our desires. The multitude of complicated and expensive programs in place to deal with collection and recycling of waste would be greatly reduced merely through reduction of initial waste production.

In order to make headway within our district, public support must be gained for a zero waste initiative. This can only be accomplished by framing it as a pro-business and economic development policy. By highlighting the fact that zero waste equals one hundred percent efficiency, the goal of all businesses, instead of demanding the production of zero garbage, we can ensure that necessary backing to work towards our goals will be assured.

In practice, zero waste is an merely a new catch phrase for an old concept. The same measures that waste management professionals have been working on for years are being infused with new life as we are given a greater and more inspiring goal to aspire to. It is now our task to take this slogan and use it to its full capacity, reaching as close as we possibly can at all times towards that perfect number. If we are lucky, in time, it may well prove attainable.

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