Greater Vancouver Regional istrict Our Future: fore Livable Region . Creatin Steps To A British Columbia Handiewith care BCesEnvironment. Where Do Your ‘Recyclables Go? - Find out what , happens to paper, glass, metals and plastic that is ~ collected by your : municipal recycling os program. Teli Us Who Is Making a *: Difference "We are looking for “waste reduction leaders in the industrial/ : commercial/ _ institutional sector. “Nomination form cn Page 3. $994 Let Us Know What You Think | . Win a free compost bin for your backyard. Page 4. oo¢ Region Well on The efforts of individuals, businesses and governments are ail adding up toa big reduction in the amount of waste being disposed of in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Like other regional districts in the province, Greater Vancouver is expected to reduce its waste by one-third by 1995, and by one-haif (per capita) by the year 2000. While it may sound like a tall order — especially considering that our region generates over two million tonnes of waste annually — a waste audit completed earlier this year has shown that we are well on the way to meeting the 1995 goal, . The residential sector is already recycling 11% of its wiiste, while the IC & ft sector (Industrial, Commercial _ and Institutional operators) is recycling 32%, OF the . demolition and construction waste generated in the region, 49% is already being recycled. _ The method by. which the region will meet or , Surpass the 50% waste réduction goal is currently . being discussed, In Stage I of the Solid Waste '. Management Plan Review, advisory commniittces were struck, public workshops held, and a long list of waste " »teduction options was identified. Stage I began in March of this year, when the GVRD hired a team of technical consultants to recommend a cost-effective and environinentally- _ Sound waste management strategy for the segion. The team identified a “shortlist” of six options that were discussed at a public workshop in June, Results ‘of the workshop were-analysed and the list was cut. down to four systems that were reviewed at further public forums held earlier this month, - Most participants at the June workshop supported mandatory source separation of recyclables for households and industry/business; composting for households and industry/ousincss; more emphasis on prodtict stewardship to require manufacturers to take more responsibility for the waste from their products; Disposal vs Wednesday, October 27, 1993 ~ North Shore News ~ 47 and more community-based education. The technical consultants will now prepare a detailed evaluation of each option, including their costs, environmental impact and waste minimization potential. Their recommendation for the best option will be reviewed by the public, after which a Stage H report outlining the recommended plan will be submitted to the GVRD Board of Directors and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks for Residential and IC&I Waste -—~ PERCENTAGE 8és3 =~ ea 6 Meee 1A: Oat pvernment'ia5/ ve Ananapenient, nese Way to Waste Reduction Goal approval. During Stage II, details of the plan will be finalized and implementation of a new waste management - “system will begin. Copies of all the major reports and newsletters from the Solid Waste Management Plan Review Office are on file at many of the region's public libraries. For further information, call tie Solid Waste Management Plan Review Office at 451-6040, earng ands: ice ed oS Composting Adds Life to Garden = Far from being solely country or suburban pastimes, composting and gardening are becoming popular recreational hobbies with city dwellers, too. Chris Summerfield and her fi amily are just one example. Chris was brought up in the country in Ontario, and taking kitchen scraps out to the compost pile after cinner was part of the day's regular routine. When she moved to Vancouver and started throwing those scraps into the garbage, she was amazed at how much waste was created. So even though she, her husband and 2 1/2-year-old | daughter Serene live in a Kitsilano co-op, she decided to get back to her roots. Literally. Her father made her a wooden compost bin that’s now in use on the grounds of her building. Co-op members collectively built and share some flower and vegetable boxes thet they put in the back of their building. By maintaining a good balance of carbon-rich - and nitrogen-rich materials in her compost and remembering to chop up her kitchen scraps quite small before adding them to her bin, Chris can get her compost bin to produce rich earth for her’ prolific garden in only a few months. “It’s not waste,” she says, referring to the fruit and vegetable scraps that used to go into the garbage. “When you see the finished product coming out, it really is black gold.” Nor have radents or pests been a problem for her, as she doesn't put meat or fatty food into the compost bin, and buries the scraps into the compost material before putting the lid back on. “People are starting to get over the myth that compost is smelly and ugly," she notes. “If it's done properly, there is actually a nice: sweet smell, It's a pleasure to put your hands into the final product.” And it’s certainly reduced the amount of garbage her family disposes of each week - down to about one small grocery bag full. GVRD residents interested in starting their own compost bins can get advice and hands-on learning at any one of the public compost demonstration: gardens located around the region or by calling the Compost Hotline. at 736 2250.