Waste Management

Metro Vancouver generates a lot of garbage:almost three and half million tonnes of waste per year. That is nearly 1.5 tonnes per person every year! That is an enormous amount of waste to landfill or burn every year.We need to take action to reduce waste in our region.

Reducing the amount of waste that we produce will improve our environment by reducing greenhouse gases and preventing further pollution of our air, land and water. Waste diversion also has economic and social benefits through the creation of green jobs and by providing opportunities for local businesses.

To solve the current waste crisis, SPEC calls for a Zero Waste strategy for the Lower Mainland. We advocate three main components to this strategy for diverting products from the waste stream:

1. Reducing our waste The best way to manage waste is not to generate it in the first place. Buy fewer products and choose items with less packaging.

2. Re-using products and materials Re-use products, including bags and containers, repair or donate items to charity and purchase used goods to reduce waste.

3. Recycling Recycle products such as paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic through municipal recycling and deposit programs. Dispose of electronic waste through Extended Product Responsibility (EPR) programs. Compost food and yard waste.

While SPEC supports Metro Vancouver Regional District’s vision for a zero waste region, we believe a viable waste management strategy should focus first and foremost on waste reduction rather than waste diversion read more

Waste Management Related Projects