Stricter Squamish recycling standards enacted

The District is tightening its belt on recyclable and organic materials being thrown into the landfill.

Council passed three readings on Dec. 18 — virtually guaranteeing its adoption — on a bylaw amendment that would lower the limit at the Squamish landfill for mixed waste to 15 per cent, down from 20 per cent.

Mixed waste is defined as garbage containing more than 20 per cent recyclable and/or organic material, by weight or by volume.

It’s a follow-up from public feedback that happened in 2017.

The District previously wanted to have a five per cent threshold for mixed waste contamination.

Businesses said this was a target that was too hard to meet.

As a compromise, the District said it would start with a 20 per cent limit, and lower that ceiling each year until it reaches the five-per-cent mark.

From a budget point of view, this could add $20,000 to the District’s coffers, according to staff estimates.

“There is an estimated 100 [metric tons] of material that is currently charged the general waste rate that will meet the proposed mixed waste threshold, and thereby have the higher mixed waste rate applied to it,” reads a report to council.

“The target however, is not to increase revenue, but to decrease the volume of mixed waste. The additional fees provide incentive to reduce waste creation.”