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Solid Waste Management Plan Review (Archived)

Solid Waste Management Plan Review

September, 2017: This page has been archived, and will no longer be updated. For updates and current information about the project, please visit www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/swmp.

In 2012, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) embarked on a process to review and update its 2004 Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). The Province of BC's Environmental Management Act mandates regional districts to prepare and regularly update these plans. A SWMP reflects a long term vision of how each regional district manages its solid waste, including diversion and disposal.

Plan Status

The Regional District of Nanaimo Board of Directors identified Solid Waste Management Planning as a priority in 2012. The RDN is currently undergoing the review process of updating the Regions SWMP from 2004. A summary of the stages of the planning process is shown below.

Consultation

A Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee, with public, local government and technical representation, provided input into the Stage SWMP Review. Future stages will include identifying options to address the region's future solid waste management needs, the selection of preferred options, and community consultation.

Stage 1 - Complete

The first step in reviewing the 2004 SWMP was completed in fall 2013. The Stage 1: Existing System Report assessed the status of the region's current waste management systems and the results of putting the current SWMP's Zero Waste programs into action. The 2012 Waste Composition Study provided a critical tool in preparing the SWMP update.

The Stage 1: Existing System Report concluded that the RDN has fully implemented the key components of its 2004 SWMP, including residential food waste collection and banning commercial food waste from landfill disposal. Participation in these programs has resulted in the region diverting 68 per cent of its waste for composting and recycling and achieving a 350 kilogram per capita landfill disposal rate, one of the lowest in Canada.

Stage 2 - Complete

The RDN has adopted the Zero Waste International Alliance's definition of Zero Waste.

"Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.

Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health."

The RDN has been one of the leading jurisdictions achieving some of the highest waste diversion in the world. The 2014 BC average per capita waste disposal was 520 kg/person/ year while that RDN's for the same period was 347 kg/person/year. The RDN's proposed new target of 90% diversion is a remarkable 109kg/person/year by 2027!

A document that highlights the preferred option, as stated in our stage 2 report, can be downloaded here.

Background for Options Considered

The following technical memo's will be reviewed and discussed at the Advisory Committee meetings.

Stage 3 - Currently Underway

The third and final stage of the update, will include a schedule for implementation, financing and additional public consultation before final adoption of the Solid Waste Management Plan by the Board and the Minister of Environment.

Feedback

Please tell us what you think and have your say on the future of Solid Waste Services in the RDN by emailing us at [email protected].

Plan Advisory Meeting Minutes & Presentations

DateEventCategory
Mar 5, 2019Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Jan 10, 2019Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Oct 4, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Sep 6, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Jul 5, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
May 15, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
May 10, 2018Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 19, 2018Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 3, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Feb 6, 2018Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Dec 12, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Nov 16, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Oct 12, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Sep 21, 2017Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Sep 14, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Jul 17, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Jul 13, 2017Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Jun 28, 2017Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Jun 14, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
May 30, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
May 25, 2017Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 11, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Apr 20, 2017Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 13, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Mar 15, 2017Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Dec 1, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Nov 28, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Oct 27, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Oct 25, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Sep 20, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Jun 23, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 19, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 17, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Apr 14, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 12, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Mar 17, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Mar 10, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Feb 18, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Feb 9, 2016Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Feb 4, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Jan 14, 2016Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Dec 10, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting (Cancelled)Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Dec 2, 2015Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Nov 26, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Nov 5, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Oct 7, 2015Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Sep 17, 2015RSWAC Meeting NoticeRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Jul 9, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Jun 18, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 28, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 14, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 16, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Apr 2, 2015Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Mar 11, 2015Solid Waste Management Select CommitteeSolid Waste Management Select Committee
Feb 19, 2015Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Dec 11, 2014Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Nov 20, 2014Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting - CancelledRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Oct 8, 2014Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Sep 12, 2014Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 16, 2013Regional Solid Waste Advisory Committee MeetingRegional Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Interested in staying in the loop with Solid Waste Managment Plan updates and events? Send us an email, and we'll send you notifications for opportunities to share your perspective.