What’s the issue?
Canadians dispose of more municipal solid waste per capita than any other country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development according to a Conference Board of Canada report. However, there are many emerging markets in harnessing the energy of waste and reducing our consumption in an effort to wean ourselves off of landfill use while turning our waste into energy and other products. Jobs and the emerging economy are going to grow significantly in renewable technologies.
Who is impacted by this issue?
Every adult in Nelson Creston has to manage their own household waste. Local governments are responsible for preventing and disposing of solid waste for homes and businesses in their area.
What is the ideal?
Many residents would prefer that the mining operation discovers no gold of sufficient value to warrant further development. Even the most low-impact mining operation would add additional heavy vehicle traffic in and out of the area and some impact to wildlife and streams. Barring no development at all, the ideal for residents would be a mining company works with the community and the province to develop a near-zero-impact operation similar to X mining operation and provide some compensation and employment to residents. If compensation or employment is provided, some residents might favour the development over not.
What role is the government currently playing?
The BC Government regulates waste management under the Environmental Management Act (EMA), which regulates Prohibitions and Authorizations, Municipal Waste Management, Contaminated Site Remediation, Remediation of Mineral Exploration Sites and Mines, Clean Air Provisions (including Greenhouse Gas Reduction), Compliance and Appeals. The former government has identified the following areas of general public interest:
What role should the BC government play?
We were inspired by the West Kootenay EcoSociety‘s commitment to 100% renewable energy and would love to see us reap the rewards of a locally directed and owned electric grid. One new input to our grid, along with solar, hydroelectric and others for a year-round supply, is the renewable natural gas that is produced from heating forestry waste wood slash piles. We heard a company is planning to partner with A.T.C.O. locally to privately run a biomass plant. During the 2013 election, BC Greens candidate Sjeng Derkx began advocating for this technology in our region and we wonder if there is an opportunity for publicly owned operations. Imagine Kootenay.com discusses this budding industry.
What is currently happening in Nelson Creston?
- We are currently pulling 20,000 lbs/month of fabric out of our landfills through recycling brokered by Pawsitive Apparel who sends fabric to Vancouver for repurposing in China. They have been researching bringing in a repurposing machine to Nelson and has identified many potential public funding investors.
- Municipal Composting is being planned by the RDCK for rolling out in 2020. Demand for composting support is increasing in our rural landscape with the issue of wildlife interactions increasing around even the best odourless piles.
What role should the BC Government Play?
Redirecting and harnessing the value of our waste was a part of the BC Greens 2017 Election platform:
“A Green government will promote the use of clean technology to derive the maximum economic benefit from waste streams.
- Regulations and procurement are effective means of promoting efficiency in industry in a way that also benefits consumers and the environment.
- Eco-efficiency links the economy and the environment in a positive way and concurrently achieves economic and environmental benefits.
- These measures will enhance the market for green products and services, lower production costs, and allow made-in-B.C. products to become mainstream.
- These measures will result in lower cost solutions to waste management and encourage the harvesting of valuable materials from the waste stream.”
