HALIFAX – Tonight, Halifax Regional Council will be hosting a public hearing on proposed amendments to By-Law 600, regarding HRM’s Waste Diversion Program. HRM Solid Waste Resources (SWR) has put together a pretty good presentation [PDF] that will be leading the discussion. In an effort to force some emotional attachment to our garbage, SWR have thrown in some truly gruesome pictures of failed waste diversion (blood vials?!).
What do the changes mean to you?
*Public Hearing at 6pm has been **CANCELLED*** by Halifax Regional Council as of 4:25pm; about 100 people were to speak*
1. Reduces the garbage bag limit from 6 to 4 bags/containers for all municipal collection services.
2. Specifies the use of clear bags for garbage for residential to include one dark privacy bag and the use of clear bags only for the ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional) sector.
3. Specify commercial multi-unit property owners provide occupants with a kitchen counter top mini-bin.
Staff Report [PDF] expects a 6 month public education phase followed by a notification phase (warnings and more educational efforts) and then finally the compliance phase is effective November 1, 2011.
The SWR presentation cites a waste audit in 2008-2009 that found 32% of materials, over 20,000 tonnes/year, in residential garbage were recyclable and compostable. While 50% of collected garbage from the industrial, commercial and institutional sector should have been composted or recycled, that’s over 42,000 tonnes.
Solid Waste Resource Advisory Committee Report [PDF] cites that 33 of 55 NS municipalities already mandate clear bag usage (impressive if clear bags led to better separation of organics, recyclables and refuse).
So it’s clear, more than 60,000 tonnes of waste would be diverted from our landfills a year, how do you argue against that?
WHAT: Presentation & Public Hearing on HRM’s “An Amendment to By-Law S-600, Respecting Solid Waste Resource Collection & Disposal – Diversion Opportunities”
WHERE: Halifax City Hall
WHEN: Tonight, March 8th; public hearings @ 6:00 pm.
CONTACT: Office of the Municipal Clerk, clerks@halifax.ca or your Regional Councillor
Photograph by Spacing Magazine.