Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Nanaimo Green Bin Cuts Waste By 50%


50% Less Garbage Going To Landfill

Nanaimo residents cut waste sent to landfill by half

By participating in the green bin food and kitchen waste program, Nanaimo householders are now sending almost 50 per cent less garbage to the landfill than a year ago.

In October, the first full month with all City-serviced properties receiving green bin service, participating households sent 310 tonnes of food waste to the ICC Group Duke Point composting facility.

“Thanks to the efforts of the community, 70 per cent of what was once garbage is now recycled into new materials or compost,” said Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan. “Using the green bin has meant some extra work for households but the rewards make those efforts worthwhile. We’re turning food waste into a beneficial product that improves soils, conserves landfill space, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and creates sustainable local employment.”

The Green Bin Program impact is region-wide and goes beyond reducing household waste going to the landfill. Since 2005, Regional District of Nanaimo businesses and organizations involved in food services have been collecting their food waste for composting.

By familiarizing residents with food and food soiled paper products accepted at the composting facility, the Green Bin Program enabled Woodgrove Centre to introduce organic waste collection bins at its Food Court. Other businesses and institutions with public food service areas will provide similar organics collection bins, further increasing the City’s waste diversion.

Nanaimo has been a leader in recycling and waste reduction since 1987, when the City formally launched curbside recyclables collection. “The City and the RDN now lead the country with one of the lowest waste disposal and the highest waste diversion rates of any municipality in Canada,” Ruttan said.

The Green Bin Program was introduced without significantly affecting collection user rates. In 2011, green bin, recycling and garbage collection user rates were $114 per year, one of the lowest rates in BC.

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