Re: “Squamish now ‘Bear Stupid,’” (letter, Nov. 5): Whether food scraps go in a garbage tote or an organics tote does not change the fact that they are a bear attractant. If we could be Bear Smart with our garbage totes, then we can be equally Bear Smart with our organics totes. What we need to do is show some responsibility and manage our waste.
Residential waste is comprised of 40 per cent compostable materials, and we can extend the life of the landfill by diverting organics to a compost facility. This year, we have already seen a 14.6 per cent decrease (174 metric tonnes) in curbside garbage pickup over 2014 as a result of the new organics collection program that rolled out this summer.
Squamish CAN (Climate Action Network) also supports the organic program because it reduces landfill methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is 72 per cent more harmful than carbon dioxide. In fact, by composting our organics, we change waste that creates GHGs in the landfill into a resource: soil. This valuable matter is then used to grow more food locally.
Much time has gone into researching the organics program and finding solutions to reducing our waste and GHG emissions. Squamish CAN and the Zero Waste Action Team have been proud to work with the District of Squamish, former WildSafe BC coordinator Meg Toom and Carney’s on this effort.
We feel that Squamish should be proud to be so far ahead of the game when it comes to waste diversion and GHG reduction in Canada.
Linda Kelly-Smith
For Squamish CAN and the Zero Waste Action Team
