Victoria, BC– Results from the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Solid Waste Market Research and Engagement Study, which explored residents' and businesses' attitudes and behaviours towards waste reduction and management practices, are now available. The data will help inform education and outreach initiatives focused on achieving the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) target of reducing the region’s waste by more than one-third by 2031.

“The Solid Waste Market Research and Engagement Study provided actionable feedback which will help guide our initiatives over the next three years,” said CRD Board Chair Cliff McNeil-Smith. “There is an opportunity to expand our educational and training resources to better assist the community in properly disposing of waste.”

Survey results, along with historical data, such as program participation, Hartland Landfill scale data, Infoline email data and the 2022 Solid Waste Stream Composition Study, were analyzed to develop the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and research findings:

Residential:

• 74% of residents reported positive attitudes across five waste management behaviours, including reducing waste, supporting circular economy, composting, confidence in their waste disposal knowledge and supporting community initiatives.
• Most residents reported no barriers to disposing of general refuse, recycling, and organic waste.
• 64% of residents reported significant barriers exist for "Other recycling" such as foam packaging and soft plastics. These barriers include a lack of knowledge on where and how to dispose of these materials and difficulty in transporting to disposal sites.

Hartland Public Drop-off Depot:

• Visits to recycle materials have increased by an average of 20% annually, with a notable spike in 2022 following the introduction of the Express & Go drop-off for refundable beverage containers.
• Visits to dispose of general refuse have increased by about 5% annually, slightly higher than population growth.
• Materials most commonly being brought to Hartland Landfill for recycling include metals, plastic products, and foam packaging.

Business:

• Most businesses produce paper, plastic, and organic waste.
• 100% of businesses that produce paper waste have recycling bins on site for its collection, however, only 74% of businesses that produce soft plastic waste have collection methods in place.
• About half of businesses experience challenges complying with local waste management regulations, citing limited disposal options and high costs.

“The results from the Solid Waste Market Research and Engagement Study highlight the need to further expand waste reduction knowledge and proper waste management practices in our region,” said Environmental Services Committee Chair Barbara Desjardins. “It will be interesting to see the progress made when the next study is undertaken in three years.”

The Solid Waste Market Research and Engagement Study is one of three studies that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommended staff undertake to gather data and metrics related to monitoring the SWMP. The other two studies, the Waste Generator Study and Solid Waste Stream Composition Study are scheduled over the next several years.

For more information, and to read the full report, visit www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/solid-waste-management. To learn how you can further reduce waste, visit www.crd.bc.ca/rethinkwaste.

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 government partners 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
Supervisor, Communications and Education Development
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3287 Cell: 250.516.4089