The Capital Regional District (CRD) published a study to provide a ‘snapshot’ of what is being sent to the landfill that could be diverted to recycle centres or compost.
Every five years the CRD publishes this report to help guide their education programs for the community to better understand what should and shouldn’t be sent to the landfill.
The CRD’s ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of waste sent to the Hartland landfill by one-third by 2031.
“I invite residents and businesses to visit our website to learn more about how they can help us achieve this important target,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant.
The study found that roughly 47% of waste sent to the landfill could have been diverted to compost or recycling programs offered by the CRD. The study shows 16% of the landfill’s total waste was organic and compostable and 12% was plastic or paper/cardboard that could have been recycled.
Wood products are now the largest statistic of garbage in the Hartland Landfill with a whopping 18%. Similarly, construction and demolition (C&D) material categories saw the largest increase of any materials in the landfill. C&D materials jumped 6.6% to a total of 13.3% of all garbage accounted for.
Related:
- Here’s what ‘intersectional environmentalism’ means and how Victoria can benefit from it
- What goes in your blue box: BC releases new list of recyclables
2022 saw one especially harmful addition to the landfill when operational issues at a cement manufacturing plant contributed 108 tonnes of cement to the landfill. That 108 tonnes only accounts for 1% of the total waste last year.
The ultimate goal is to get the whole of the CRD down to its target of 250 kilograms per capita by the year 2031.
The CRD’s website has information and even a fun game that will teach residents what can and cannot be recycled and composted. You may be surprised by a few items and where they actually belong.
In addition to the CRD, Victoria has other resources to learn about compost such as the Compost Education Centre which operates a 24/7 compost hotline and the Sustainable Fox who educates on intersectional environmentalism and works events to divert people’s waste properly.
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