Barbara Roden
Free Press
Changes to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) plan are “starting to have a big impact,” says District of 100 Mile Councillor Dave Mingo.
Mingo, who was the District’s representative on the most recent SWM Review Committee, says the biggest impact has been a significant decrease in municipal solid waste.
He adds residents are recycling and composting more.
The three transfer stations where waste gets picked up and taken to 100 Mile House – in Lone Butte, Lac la Hache and Forest Grove – have also seen reductions due to recycling and composting, Mingo says, adding the bins there are now being tamped down before they’re emptied, which means more in each truckload.
“The trucks are making 1,700 fewer trips per year, which saves 80,000 litres of diesel fuel. We’re definitely doing a much better job.”
These decreases have been slightly offset by an increase in demolition land clearing (DLC) materials, as homeowners, developers, and businesses tear down or renovate buildings. “DLC is a good sign of a thriving economy.”
Mingo says a pilot project involving centralized composting will begin at the Williams Lake transfer station this year, and will expand to the north and south Cariboo if it works.
There will also be another round of backyard composters available through the Cariboo Regional District at a reduced price.
“We had a ‘how are we doing’ meeting in January,” says Mingo of the review committee. “I think it’s working quite well.”