Port Coquitlam, BC. Residents are now on another weight-loss challenge. This time the goal is not by pounds, but by tonnes. We are talking about reducing waste that goes in to the landfills and divert it green and blue carts at home.
Last year alone, 1,863 tonnes of waste (26% less) was diverted from going to the landfills. The city government was able to translate this to $164,000 savings in operation costs and disposal fees. Thanks to the Port Coqutilam Waste-loss Challenge, a campaign for residents to put garbage in the right place, taxpayers has not seen any increase to their garbage levy in three straight years!
This is an overview of how the challenge works:
Last year alone, 1,863 tonnes of waste (26% less) was diverted from going to the landfills. The city government was able to translate this to $164,000 savings in operation costs and disposal fees. Thanks to the Port Coqutilam Waste-loss Challenge, a campaign for residents to put garbage in the right place, taxpayers has not seen any increase to their garbage levy in three straight years!
This is an overview of how the challenge works:
- All recyclables (tins, plastic and paper) go to the blue cart.
- The biodegradable waste such as food scraps, wet papers and plant trimmings go to the green cart.
- Glass like bottles go to any of the six depots in the city.
- Small appliances, broken electronics and techno-wastes go to return-it centers
- Consider selling/ donating unused items to charity.
Aside from the bi-weekly zoning collection, residents can now separate food scraps and cans/bottles at the nearest city-owned recreation centers as well as civic events.
To help educate the community, information will again be disseminated this fall to residents who are yet to fully understand how to segregate waste properly. Blue and green carts are introduced to schools as well as reaching more or these services to multi-family households. The goal is to to help push the diversion rate of household wastes to 70%. Meaning, only 30% of over-all city waste would actually go the landfills. This sound really ideal, but given the support of the residents and the initiative of the local government, this aim is not too far to become a reality.
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