Expansion of Disposal Ban in Thompson-Nicola Regional District, BC to Help Divert Materials from Landfill

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): To prevent hazardous waste and recyclable materials from being landfilled or improperly disposed of, an expansion to the Mandatory Recyclable Materials Bylaw has been approved by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board of Directors. The TNRD’s Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw was first implemented in fall 2022, and only applied to old corrugated cardboard. As part of this bylaw amendment, the Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw now includes all materials regulated by the provincial Recycling Regulation extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, to include the following products:

•          antifreeze and antifreeze containers
•          batteries, including lead-acid batteries
•          flammable liquids and solvents
•          fluorescent lights
•          gasoline and diesel
•          residential pesticide products
•          residential packaging and printed paper
•          refundable beverage containers
•          pharmaceutical products and medications
•          oil, oil filters and oil containers
•          paint and paint containers
•          electronics and electrical products including metal household or commercial appliances
•          thermostats
•          tires
•          mattresses and box springs*
•          propane tanks*

* Expected to be added to the Recycling Regulation in 2024 by Province of BC

The bylaw expansion will be implemented by the TNRD over three phases in the next six months. Implementation timelines are as follows:

•          Phase 1 (Approximately two months): Continued education and outreach.
•          Phase 2 (Early 2024): Continuation of education, and “mock ticketing,” where loads will be inspected and warning tickets issued for non-compliance.
•          Phase 3 (Spring 2024): Full implementation, where penalties may be issued for non-compliance. Loads may be subject to a fine if they contain more than 10% of residential packaging, printed paper, cardboard, or beverage containers, or if a load contains any of the other EPR materials that are listed.

The expansion to the Mandatory Recyclable Material Bylaw follows a public consultation process held during September and October of 2023, which included four webinar sessions and a survey which was completed by approximately 319 respondents.

“A similar disposal ban for EPR products is already in place in several regional districts in southern B.C., and it is proven as an effective method for reducing waste going to landfill,” said Adriana Mailloux, TNRD Manager of Solid Waste and Recycling. “In consulting with residents and stakeholders, we have found that there is generally very good support for a disposal ban on recyclables.”

The expansion of the TNRD’s disposal ban is guided by the 2018 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. The Plan sets a goal of reducing the TNRD’s annual per-person landfill disposal rate to 500 kilograms per person by 2028. As of 2021, the per-person landfill disposal rate of TNRD residents was 639 kilograms, which was 23% higher than the average in B.C., and the eleventh-highest rate among the 27 regional districts.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com