Victoria, BC — Following a second phase of public engagement, Capital Regional District (CRD) staff are bringing the final draft Solid Waste Management Plan and next steps for implementation to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Environmental Services Committee and Board this spring.

The final draft Plan includes input from electoral areas and municipalities, First Nations communities, residents and neighboring regional districts.

Key amendments to the Plan based on consultation findings include:

• More information about phasing in future development of the Hartland Landfill property as it relates to regional waste diversion goals
• More information about the relationship between solid waste management and climate change
• Revised phrasing to clarify the CRD’s intent to investigate and report out on alternatives to landfilling
• Revised information related to current and future opportunities for organics processing

“A new Solid Waste Management Plan gives us the policy framework we need to reduce how much material is sent to Hartland Landfill and guide how the region’s waste is handled safely and sustainably,” said Larisa Hutcheson, General Manager of Parks and Environmental Services with the CRD. “The actions and strategies in this final draft enable a range of current, emerging and future activities that balance our region’s efforts between ongoing, daily issues like construction waste to long-term solutions that support our collective action on climate change.”

CRD staff have also highlighted recommendations from First Nations communities for the CRD Board in this report, including suggestions from the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council related to education materials for community members and the creation of a W̱LC-CRD negotiation table to discuss potential impact benefits and partnership agreements related to Hartland Landfill.

A number of other minor revisions have been made throughout the Plan to clarify intent and ensure consistency.  Consultation reports on both the second phase of public engagement and focused conversations with area residents on road access to Hartland Landfill have been included in the package being considered by the CRD’s Environmental Services Committee on April 21.

Public engagement has been a key part of developing the capital region’s final draft Plan.  CRD staff carried out an extensive first phase of consultation on the proposed targets, strategies and actions for the Plan in late 2019, using this input to inform a draft that was issued for public review and comment in November 2020. 

If approved by the Board in May, staff will submit this final draft Plan to the Province and then immediately begin plans for implementation.  As a living document, the Plan will be reported out on annually and can be amended as opportunities and technologies emerge.

To review the final draft Plan and associated materials, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/rethinkwaste.

Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.

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