Municipal Hall

May 1, 2012 / 2:00 PM

On Monday, April 30, Maple Ridge Mayor and Council reviewed a staff report that outlines specific issues that will have an impact on the management of solid waste in Maple Ridge and throughout the Metro Vancouver region. The report is available on the Maple Ridge website as part of the April 30, 2012, agenda and reports.

In the lower mainland, solid waste and recycling efforts are governed by the Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan (ISWRMP) developed by Metro Vancouver. The ISWRMP sets targets for solid waste reduction and each municipality determines how best to meet those targets within their own municipality as the solid waste and recycling collection model may vary in each jurisdiction.

To achieve the stated goal within the ISWRMP to reduce regional waste division from 55% to 70%, Metro Vancouver has mandated a full organics ban which will be fully enforced by 2015. Noncompliance with the mandate could result in significant fines.

Another issue that will impact the District practices relates to a new Extended Producer Responsibility Program that has been announced for packaging and printed paper. There are already similar programs in place for cans and bottles, home electronics, paint, oil and tires. This new program means that the management of all waste from the packaging of consumer products and all printed materials (newspapers, magazines, brochures, etc.) will need to be paid for by the companies that produce them. Producers are currently developing their management plan and this will be submitted to the Province in November of this year with the goal of having an implementation program in place for 2014.

Council discussed the various options that could be applied to waste management in Maple Ridge. There are two goals that came from the Council discussion - the first is to achieve a 'zero waste' approach through the highest possible diversion rates, and the second is to examine the costs associated with solid waste management and look at the financial impact of various service delivery models. Therefore, Council has directed staff to retain a consultant to provide a detailed report to determine what the most appropriate strategy is for Maple Ridge.

"We have a tremendous 40-year relationship with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society which demonstrates what can be achieved when citizens understand the implications of the garbage they create. As the region moves to a ban on organics and we see more producer responsibility programs come into play, it is critical that we take this opportunity to look at our overall practices in Maple Ridge and explore all of the alternatives and costs associated with alternative service delivery models," noted Mayor Daykin. "There is a substantial variation in the programs, methods and costs for solid waste management reported from community to community, and it's critical that Council and citizens have a full understanding of the implications of the alternatives as this issue moves forward," he added.

Council will discuss the terms of reference for the consultant's report at an upcoming meeting.

For further information, please contact:

David Pollock
Municipal Engineer
Tel: 604-467-7496
Email: dpollock@mapleridge.ca

Frank Quinn
General Manager: Public Works & Development Services
Tel: 604-467-7359
Email: fquinn@mapleridge.ca

Kim Day
Executive Director
Ridge Meadows Recycling Society
Tel: 604-463-5545 ext 222
Email: kim@rmrecycling.org