Final draft of Cariboo RD's Solid Waste Management Plan Update released

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

After three years of public consultation, feedback and careful review, the Cariboo Regional District has released the final draft of its updated Solid Waste Management Plan. The plan sets out the broad activities the regional district will use to manage garbage, recycling, and organic waste, along with strategies to divert solid waste away from landfills over the next ten years.

The Solid Waste Management Plan will set forth waste management objectives to be achieved through the implementation of waste reduction initiatives in the final plan. These initiatives will be implemented over the next ten years, meaning some services will be initiated sooner than others, while others will be subject to further consideration and planning prior to implementation.

The plan will be reviewed by the Cariboo Regional District’s board of directors at the December 8th board meeting. If accepted by the board of directors, the plan will be referred to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy for final regulatory approval. Once approved, the plan will become legally binding and authorize the regional district to carry out various projects, implement new services and fund new initiatives contained within the plan.

Significant public input was received over the previous three years, and informed decisions made by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Solid Waste Management Committee on the contents of the final plan. Over 1,900 residents participated in the most recent round of public consultation in the spring, which assessed public support for seven waste reduction initiatives recommended for the plan. Overall support for six initiatives ranged from 56% to 80%, and were included in the final draft of the plan and area as follows:

1. Establish diversion and re-use centers.
2. Expand access to multi-unit recycling.
3. Increase commercial recycling availability.
4. Increase food waste prevention and divert food scraps from landfills.
5. Establish landfill disposal bans.
6. Modify rural refuse sites.

A seventh option to expand user pay systems to additional rural sites was not well supported and is not included in the implementation plan. Instead, the regional district will focus on promoting waste diversion and public education. User-pay approaches will be reviewed again in 2028 if landfilled waste is not reduced in the first five years of the plan.

In addition to the seven region-wide initiatives, nineteen rural communities were asked about proposals to establish rural curbside collection services in their neighbourhoods. Curbside collection services are planned to be implemented for four communities in the regional district, including Russet Bluff (east of Williams Lake / South Lakeside), Red Bluff (south of Quesnel), 103 Mile, and Dog Creek Road (south of Williams Lake). These communities saw high levels of support and adequate participation levels to include the implementation of services within the plan.

The regional district is not planning further public engagement on which initiatives will be included in the plan. Public engagement may be conducted on the implementation of various initiatives and build awareness of waste diversion opportunities. Residents can stay informed and receive the latest plan updates by subscribing to our Solid Waste Management Page, subscribing to regular updates through the CRD’s website or contacting the Solid Waste Management Division at 1-800-665-1636 or through mailbox@cariboord.ca.