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Solid Waste Services Department
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  • WHAT WE DO

    We are responsible for disposing of the waste generated by residents and businesses within our region. Planning for less waste, improving reuse and recycling systems as well as managing the remaining waste reflects the public’s expectations of high environmental stewardship, as well as the desire to keep waste management affordable.

 We Work On

  • Sustainable Waste Management

    Our solid waste management plan focusses on reducing the waste generated within our region, improving reuse and recycling options, recovering maximum resources from remaining garbage and disposing of residuals locally.

  • Regional Solid Waste Facilities

    Metro Vancouver operates recycling and waste centres where residents and businesses drop off garbage, yard trimmings and a variety of other recyclable materials. Garbage remaining after recycling is managed at the Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy Facility and the Vancouver Landfill. Garbage in excess of what can be managed at local facilities is shipped to remote landfills for disposal. Within the region there are also private solid waste facilities which handle demolition, land clearing and construction debris.

  • Education and outreach

    Some of the waste we manage doesn’t have to be there. Wise purchasing, repair and reuse of goods, better access to recycling all mean less waste going to disposal. We work with member municipalities and businesses to develop educational materials and campaigns that encourage a change in our approach to generating waste.

  • Waste Reduction – Local and National

    Our plan also includes a 10% per capita reduction in the amount of waste we generate by 2020 (compared with 2010 levels). This means advocating for better product and packaging design as well as more selective purchasing by consumers and businesses. To bring about those changes we’re engaging partners from across Canada through the National Zero Waste Council.

Projects and Initiatives

  • Where to drop off recycling?

    You asked where to take things. Use the We Recycle app, or the online Metro Vancouver Recycles data bases to find 100s of places to take 100s of things.

  • Organics Disposal Ban

    Our goal is to have the materials you dispose of used for their highest possible purpose. That’s why, along with your municipality, we’ve banned compostable material including food scraps from the garbage.

  • Clean Wood Disposal Ban

    Wood that is not treated or painted can be used as fuel or compost; it has no place in the landfill.

  • Tools to improve recycling in apartment and condos

    We worked with residents and building managers at our own multi-family housing sites to identify and overcome barriers to recycling. Two things kept our residents from recycling more: not enough recycling bins, and people feeling like they were the only ones trying to recycle properly.

  • Reusing our waste reduction campaigns

    We test and evaluate our campaigns to ensure they deliver our waste reduction messages. Other cities are already using our campaigns for free. You can too.

  • Making it easier for you to recycle

    Our goal is for you to have the same recycling information where you live, where you work or go to school, in your building’s recycling room and in public spaces. Consistency helps people sort their recycling faster, gets materials in the right bins and increases recycling rates. You can help by using our materials – they’re free to download and use.

  • Zero Waste Challenge

    All of us make decisions every day that impact how much garbage we send to the landfill and waste-to-energy facility. The Zero Waste Challenge is about figuring out how to reduce that garbage. Find challenging ideas for businesses, schools and at home.

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