People in Port Alberni are producing significantly more garbage than they should, and sending more recyclables and compost into the landfill than trash.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District separated and analysed 26 loads of garbage from May 27th to 30th and found 20% was recyclable plastics according to Operations Manager Jenny Brun.
“I think people don’t realize how much platic can be recycled, maybe not at curbside, but certainly at the 3rd Avenue Depot all those crinkly plastics can be recycled,” she said
According to Brun, the Alberni Valley produces 657 kilograms of garbage per person, per year – far above the target rate of 400 kilos.
She said there has been recycling in the Valley for 10 years now, and we should be showing better results.
As a result of recyclable and compostable materials in our trash, the Alberni Valley landfill could be forced to spend millions of dollars on methane capturing infrastructure, unless compostable materials get removed from the waste stream.
According tothe ACRD study, more than a third of all garbage dumped in the landfill could be composted and turned into dirt.
Brun said a regional composting program can process more organics than most household composters.
“Even those who do backyard compost, can’t compost meat and eggs, whereas a curbsite compost program can collect all of those things, even contaminated cardboard that can’t be recycled can be comp[osted, so there’s a lot of opportunity,” she said.
Brun said the City of Port Alberni is looking at getting some form of curbside composting program started possibly before the ACRD is able to develop a long term program for the entire region.
