Metro Vancouver's primary goal is to minimize waste generation, subsequently they have put together a management plan as a starting point of discussions to help achieve aggressive targets. The Zero Waste Challenge feeds from this plan and its mandate is to reduce, reuse and recycle, this also includes diverting 70 per cent of waste by 2015. This seems insurmountable, yet after close inspection much of our garbage contains materials that can be recovered and reused. According to Metro Vancouver, 40 per cent of materials that currently get tossed into the waste stream consist of excess food, solid paper and yard waste. These items could be put to better use and composted instead of ending up in our landfills creating methane.
According to Dave McIntosh, president of Bowen Waste Service, removing recyclables from our garbage isn't new, organic material is just one more element which we need to prepare for. "This has been going on for years and it's a good thing, it started with metals, then cardboard, bottles and jars, refundables and then plastic.Green waste hasn't been allowed for almost three years now." says McIntosh.
In October 2007, recycling came about and to date McIntosh has counted 8000 pieces which have successfully been removed from our landfill. In October 2011, this category was extended to include small home appliances such as irons, vacuums and kettles all of which can be recycled at our local depot. So food waste is our next challenge and along with it a new mindset about how we dispose of our household garbage.
In order to prepare for the January 2013 deadline to eliminate all food waste in our garbage, the Bowen Island Municipality has decided to make changes within the 2012 season. As ofJune 4 this year,Bowen Waste Services will be modifying its pickup to include organic waste such as food, table scraps and food soiled papers. These items will be included in the current green waste debris (for instance, yard trimmings) and collected weekly. Residents can compost their organics at home or use a rodent proof, snap lid container to be set out at curb side for a weekly collection.
McIntosh recommends lining the container with an absorbent paper such as newspaper. This will help protect your food bin from smells and messes. Startingon September 4 2012,Bowen Waste Services will amend pickup for all other garbage (non-organic materials) from weekly to biweekly.
Ultimately, this separation will be enforced at the transfer station but it starts with the individual household. All trucks are inspected every time and non-compliance to these new rules will be fined. McIntosh didn't want to discuss fines and penalties for non compliance.
Instead, he wants to uphold a positive attitude to change and is optimistic that the islanders will embrace these new rules much like they have for all the other items that have been removed from our garbage. To date, McIntosh has never been fined because according to him, Bowen Islanders know what to do,"the good people of Bowen will be accepting of this because we are the the best recycling community in all of Metro Vancouver."
A flyer will be distributed in the mail with more detailed information regarding these changes.
