Waste Reduction through Three-Stream Curbside Collection

The Cowichan Valley population is expected to grow to over 100,000 by the year 2040. To reduce the amount of material shipped to the landfill, the regional Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) identified the need to provide all residents with equal access to three-stream (organics, recycling and garbage) curbside collection.

Reducing garbage disposal is important as the Cowichan Valley does not have a local landfill, and landfill capacity is limited on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Garbage from the Cowichan Valley is transported via truck, barge and rail service more than 700km to a landfill in Washington State. Long-distance transportation of waste materials is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult due to the floods and fires associated with climate change.

Three-stream curbside collection is the separation of household waste into three categories: organics, recycling and garbage.

What We Learned from the Community in Phase 1 (Spring 2022)

In May 2022, the CVRD launched the three-stream curbside collection Phase 1 Community Engagement process. The goal of Phase 1 engagement was to listen and learn from the community about priorities, concerns, and preferences for implementing a three-stream curbside collection service.

In Phase 1 engagement, we learned from the community that:

1. There is overall support for three-stream curbside collection service in the CVRD Electoral Areas. Residents see this service as a benefit to their household and the larger community.
2. Continued education is needed to support the implementation plan.

3. There are concerns about service and delivery costs, with an acknowledgment that creative solutions are needed to keep costs manageable.

4. Reducing the amount of waste being sent to the landfill is critical, as is offering convenient waste disposal services.
   
   
5. Residents want to understand what can be done to minimize conflict with wildlife and support the local economy by working with local waste management companies.

The community expressed a desire to expand the curbside program to include other materials such as glass and yard waste. There was also an acknowledgement of urban and rural residents' diverse waste management service needs.

To learn more about Phase 1 of Community Engagement, see the Two-page Summary Report or the Full Report.

Phase 2 of Community Engagement (Spring 2023)

The CVRD launched Phase 2 Community Engagement in the spring of 2023, with two feasible options for the three-stream curbside collection service being shared for community feedback. These options incorporate what was learned in Phase 1 of the Community Engagement, best practices for curbside collection, lessons learned in other jurisdictions and the requirements in the SWMP. To learn more about the results from Phase 2 of Community Engagement, see the Summary Report and the full Findings Report.

Options for Curbside Collection Service

Three-Stream Service Implementation

The CVRD Board of Directors passed a motion that the Three-Stream service should include food and yard waste, recycling, garbage and glass collection for all eligible residents in all Electoral Areas when the service is implemented in 2025.

Given that curbside collection services greatly vary within the region, the expanded service will align CVRD Electoral Area residents with neighbouring jurisdictions that already have a three-stream curbside service. Including yard waste and glass collection puts waste diversion, accessibility and convenience at the forefront of the program, helping the region work toward the SWMP's goal of zero waste.

For more information about the Motion, see the News Release.

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