Mandatory Waste Source Separation and Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaws
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Consultation has concluded
Update: The consultation is now closed.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is consulting on two bylaws set out out in the RDN Solid Waste Management Plan that aim to build the business of diversion in the Commercial and Institutional (CI) sectors and ensure that all residents have the ability to recycle and compost their waste:
Mandatory Waste Source Separation – All businesses, multi-family buildings and institutions will be required to have a system to separate their waste into organics, recycling and garbage containers for collection. Collection can be done by an RDN Licensed Hauler, or businesses could make their own arrangements.
Waste Hauler Licensing – Businesses that haul waste for profit – usually the same companies who pick up waste from commercial buildings – will be required to obtain a license. These Licensed Haulers would help ensure their commercial customers have systems in place for separating and collecting organics, recycling and garbage. The bylaw would provide an opportunity to give licensed haulers a discounted tipping rate at the landfill for waste that does not contain any recyclable or compostable materials. The discounted tipping rate for waste haulers is to encourage the flow of waste from generators to the waste industry rather than directly to the landfill.
The bylaw will also allow the introduction of a disposal levy for waste landfilled or incinerated in or out of region. The levy will not be applied to material that is recycled or composted. The purpose is to encourage industry’s focus on waste reduction by making it more profitable to divert than dispose. This model will also provide reliable tracking of waste diversion/disposal and has the economic benefit of growing the local waste industry.
Key areas of consultation for the Mandatory Waste Source Separation Bylaw will include:
Who the bylaw applies to
Conditions of bylaw
Compliance and enforcement of the bylaw
Key areas of consultation for the Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaw will include:
Who the bylaw applies to
Application process
Fees
Conditions of license
Compliance Enforcement
How you can find out more or provide feedback:
Register (tab at the top right of this page) to be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our email communication
Explore this webpage to find out more about the project - staff reports and other documents can be accessed in the document library
Ask us a question in the Q & A tab below and we will respond
Update: The consultation is now closed.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is consulting on two bylaws set out out in the RDN Solid Waste Management Plan that aim to build the business of diversion in the Commercial and Institutional (CI) sectors and ensure that all residents have the ability to recycle and compost their waste:
Mandatory Waste Source Separation – All businesses, multi-family buildings and institutions will be required to have a system to separate their waste into organics, recycling and garbage containers for collection. Collection can be done by an RDN Licensed Hauler, or businesses could make their own arrangements.
Waste Hauler Licensing – Businesses that haul waste for profit – usually the same companies who pick up waste from commercial buildings – will be required to obtain a license. These Licensed Haulers would help ensure their commercial customers have systems in place for separating and collecting organics, recycling and garbage. The bylaw would provide an opportunity to give licensed haulers a discounted tipping rate at the landfill for waste that does not contain any recyclable or compostable materials. The discounted tipping rate for waste haulers is to encourage the flow of waste from generators to the waste industry rather than directly to the landfill.
The bylaw will also allow the introduction of a disposal levy for waste landfilled or incinerated in or out of region. The levy will not be applied to material that is recycled or composted. The purpose is to encourage industry’s focus on waste reduction by making it more profitable to divert than dispose. This model will also provide reliable tracking of waste diversion/disposal and has the economic benefit of growing the local waste industry.
Key areas of consultation for the Mandatory Waste Source Separation Bylaw will include:
Who the bylaw applies to
Conditions of bylaw
Compliance and enforcement of the bylaw
Key areas of consultation for the Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaw will include:
Who the bylaw applies to
Application process
Fees
Conditions of license
Compliance Enforcement
How you can find out more or provide feedback:
Register (tab at the top right of this page) to be kept up-to-date with progress on this project through our email communication
Explore this webpage to find out more about the project - staff reports and other documents can be accessed in the document library
Ask us a question in the Q & A tab below and we will respond
Please review the documents in the Document Library and provide any feedback you have about the Mandatory Waste Source Separation bylaw or the Waste Hauler Licensing bylaw. All feedback sent through this section will be visible to all that visit this page. You can also email us your feedback directly.
Consultation has concluded
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Expecting the RDN to approach anything close to 90% diversion from landfills and incineration by means of these bylaws is fool-hearty. The definition of "recycling" will not encourage new facilities to be developed. No facilities exist to separate single-bin materials (which is nearly impossible to do). Bin and hauler inspections are not mandatory, as they need to be in order to obtain compliance. The RDN has done nothing to inspire companies to develop products using reclaimed materials and these bylaws will not encourage such. The City of Vancouver attempted to accomplish a similar plan, and failed. If the RDN wants to increase the recycling rate it needs to start by establishing, through a study, what its current rate is (which, unlike other regional districts, has not been correctly done for about a decade), work toward the creation of facilities that will accept commercial recycling materials (which was lost when the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange closed its doors) using the funds currently available for zero waste, and mandate that all multi-residential properties have three or more bins (the more, the better, as source-separation is superior) and waste haulers be required to recycle those materials (not burn or bury them as they mostly are today). Also the RDN should seriously consider developing its own zero waste facility, as all the other regional districts on Vancouver Island (and Vancouver) are currently doing. The for-profit haulers care far more about their profit-margins than they do reaching zero waste. These bylaws will not help us get there as they are basically pipe-dreams.
Ian Gartshore
about 3 years ago
Thank you for bringing awareness to this, I've been trying to figure out this exact issue and am so glad it's being addressed. I currently am in a townhouse complex and was very confused hearing there's no recycling other than paper, and I've spoken to other tenants who feel the same. It's unfortunate to see all the waste that could have been recycled and repurposed. Property management hasn't responded to emails unfortunately, so it would be a truly beneficial move for I'm certain many individuals who are also frustrated they don't have the access to the tools to help preserve the wellbeing of our earth, and realistically our future and future generations to come. It's important to use laws to help ensure that systemically we are doing everything we can to make environmental stewardship easy and accessible for the individual, as well as send a message that encourages people to see the priority and real value in this practice and want to partake. Thanks for listening
ks1996
over 3 years ago
Source separation for commercial multi family and institutional is long overdue…and waste haulers should be managed. That said, no steps should discourage hauling to approved sites…clean up of backroad dumping continues to be a problem.
Bridge
over 3 years ago
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Timeline
Open Consultation - March 2021 - November 2021
Mandatory Waste Source Separation and Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaws has finished this stage
This consultation is open for contributions.
Under Review - October 2021 - December 2021
Mandatory Waste Source Separation and Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaws has finished this stage
Contributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.
Final report - January 2022
Mandatory Waste Source Separation and Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaws has finished this stage
The final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as a report to the Regional Board recommending adoption of the Bylaws.
Submission to Ministry of Environment and Climate Change - February 2022
Mandatory Waste Source Separation and Waste Hauler Licensing Bylaws has finished this stage
Expecting the RDN to approach anything close to 90% diversion from landfills and incineration by means of these bylaws is fool-hearty. The definition of "recycling" will not encourage new facilities to be developed. No facilities exist to separate single-bin materials (which is nearly impossible to do). Bin and hauler inspections are not mandatory, as they need to be in order to obtain compliance. The RDN has done nothing to inspire companies to develop products using reclaimed materials and these bylaws will not encourage such. The City of Vancouver attempted to accomplish a similar plan, and failed. If the RDN wants to increase the recycling rate it needs to start by establishing, through a study, what its current rate is (which, unlike other regional districts, has not been correctly done for about a decade), work toward the creation of facilities that will accept commercial recycling materials (which was lost when the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange closed its doors) using the funds currently available for zero waste, and mandate that all multi-residential properties have three or more bins (the more, the better, as source-separation is superior) and waste haulers be required to recycle those materials (not burn or bury them as they mostly are today). Also the RDN should seriously consider developing its own zero waste facility, as all the other regional districts on Vancouver Island (and Vancouver) are currently doing. The for-profit haulers care far more about their profit-margins than they do reaching zero waste. These bylaws will not help us get there as they are basically pipe-dreams.
Thank you for bringing awareness to this, I've been trying to figure out this exact issue and am so glad it's being addressed. I currently am in a townhouse complex and was very confused hearing there's no recycling other than paper, and I've spoken to other tenants who feel the same. It's unfortunate to see all the waste that could have been recycled and repurposed. Property management hasn't responded to emails unfortunately, so it would be a truly beneficial move for I'm certain many individuals who are also frustrated they don't have the access to the tools to help preserve the wellbeing of our earth, and realistically our future and future generations to come. It's important to use laws to help ensure that systemically we are doing everything we can to make environmental stewardship easy and accessible for the individual, as well as send a message that encourages people to see the priority and real value in this practice and want to partake. Thanks for listening
Source separation for commercial multi family and institutional is long overdue…and waste haulers should be managed. That said, no steps should discourage hauling to approved sites…clean up of backroad dumping continues to be a problem.