Flyers have gone out to everyone who's purchased a garbage decal and additional notices were left at waste collection stops. A powerpoint presentation is running in the foyer of the municipal hall as the date of implementing new pick up regulations nears. Don Marshall, chair of the Solid Waste Resource Management Advisory Committee (SWRMAC), says that members of the committee will be on hand at the municipality to answer questions during the last two days of tax payments.
The first food scraps pick up will happen on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 4, and Marshall stresses that this is due to the July 1 holiday weekend. In regular weeks, organics will be collected Wednesday mornings. Even though Marshall hopes that everything will go smoothly, he says that he expects some bumps.
At the Monday, June 11, council meeting, Marshall gave an update on the committee's progress. "Our website (http://bimrecycles.ca) is getting some action and the Frequently Asked Question [section] is gradually improving," he said. "The biggest question we get is about what container should be used." Marshall says he expects islanders to be resourceful and come up with workable options.
In addition to creating public awareness about organic waste collection, SWRMAC has been working toward finding solutions for on-island processing of food waste.
Members of the committee have been reading up on and visiting organic waste processing facilities that could work for Bowen Island. "For our first site visit, we went to Mission and met with a local expert on composting. It was a very useful meeting," Marshall said. "The second site visit is happening on Thursday and Friday. Members of our group are going to see sites in Saanich and Nanaimo and they will attend a seminar in Duncan on composting and waste management."
Marshall also mentioned a report funded by Bowen Island individuals and the Knick Knack Nook that provides valuable information about a system that would work for the community. "We are looking at potential organics processing sites and will have recommendations for council soon," Marshall said. "In the meantime, we are actively encouraging people to do home composting."
