Victoria, BC– The CRD has released the results of the 2022 Solid Waste Stream Composition Study. The study is completed approximately every five years to provide a snapshot of what CRD residents and businesses are sending to the landfill and to guide diversion and education programs in the community.

“The results of the 2022 Solid Waste Stream Composition Study will guide our efforts to increase diversion and education programs in the community, as we work towards our goal of reducing waste disposal by one-third by 2031,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant.  “I invite residents and businesses to visit our website to learn more about how they can help us achieve this important target."

Highlights of the 2022 waste composition study results are:

• Organic waste coming to Hartland Landfill continues to decrease since the 2015 organics ban. Organics now represent 16.7% of waste landfilled, down from 21% in 2016. However, organics are the second-largest component of the waste stream and represent an opportunity for future diversion.
• Wood and wood products are now the largest material stream, accounting for 18.9% of total waste sent to Hartland Landfill.
• The other two largest material categories, paper/paperboard (14.2%) and plastics (12.6%), have shown little change in per capita disposal rates.
• The construction and demolition (C&D) material category had the greatest change, with an increase of 6.6% compared to 2016. C&D materials now account for 13.3% of the waste stream. This is due in part to the closure of Highwest Landfill in 2021, and rerouting of that material to Hartland Landfill, as well as an active real estate market.
• Approximately 47% of the material received at Hartland could have been diverted at source through existing waste diversion or recycling programs.

In 2022, 2,108 tonnes of Class A biosolids were deposited in Hartland Landfill due to unplanned operational issues at the cement manufacturing site approved through CRD’s short term Biosolids Beneficial Use Strategy. This accounted for 1.1% of total waste landfilled in 2022.

Results from the 2022 report will assist in planning to achieve the 2021 Solid Waste Management Plan waste disposal target of 250kg/capita by 2031, a one third reduction from current levels. For more information, and to read the full report, visit www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/solid-waste-management.

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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 For media inquiries, please contact:
Tracy Urquhart, Communications and Education Development Supervisor
CRD Environmental Services
Tel: 250.360.3287
Cell: 250.516.4089