A representative from the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) talked trash with Williams Lake city council Tuesday night, Nov. 7.
Options and cost updates for a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) were brought to the regular city council meeting by Tera Grady, the manager of solid waste at the CRD and Patrick Mahood, the manager of Public Works for the city.
Council voted in favour of drafting a letter of support to the CRD for the Solid Waste Management Plan to be considered at the Nov. 21 regular council meeting.
Five of the six options will reduce waste being sent to landfills through future programs and infrastructure while managing costs were passed unanimously and will receive support in the letter.
These options include expanding multi-unit residential dwelling (MURD) recycling, commercial recycling, food waste prevention and the diversion of food scraps, landfill disposal bans, and expanding user pay for waste disposal. A diversion/reuse centre was defeated for the time.
Gary Muraca, CAO for the city, said that while council supports the principle of a diversion/reuse centre in a private model, they do not support initial costs at this time. Further discussion is needed.
In Canada, emissions from landfills (including food, yard waste and paper) make up 19 per cent of national methane emissions, according to Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory report in 2021.
In the CRD’s plan, 640 kg/person/year are produced within the Cariboo region, including residential, commercial, construction and demolition sectors, weighing around 42,000 tonnes. The provincial average is 499 kg/person/year.
The goal is to decrease what is being sent to the landfill by 100 kg/person/year, with an estimated total of 6,300 tonnes.
