Waste Reduction through Three-Stream Curbside Collection

The Cowichan Valley population is expected to grow to over 100,000 by the year 2040. In 2021 with a population of 80,000, the CVRD shipped over 42,000 tonnes of garbage to the landfill, which is more garbage per person than ever before! To reduce the amount of landfilled material, 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. Learn more about the Solid Waste Management Plan and how waste is managed in the Cowichan Valley by reading our Citizen's Document.

As three-stream curbside collection is implemented across British Columbia, it has uncovered a range of benefits such as a reduction in the amount of garbage sent to the landfill. 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. As a result, garbage from the Cowichan Valley is transported via truck, barge, and rail service more than 700 km 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.

Moving Towards Zero Waste!

Over 30% of our regional garbage contains material that could have been composted instead of landfilled. To eventually ban organics from entering the landfill, all residents need convenient access to organics disposal alternatives. While backyard composting works for some residents, residents who also have access to curbside organics collection have less compostable material in their garbage. In addition, residents who have curbside garbage collection have less contamination (i.e. non-accepted materials) in their organics and recycling collection totes. Removing organics from the garbage will bring the Cowichan Valley one step closer to the ultimate Solid Waste Management Plan goal of Zero Waste!

Help us Plan the Future of Curbside Collection

Phase 1 Engagement

From May 9th - June 10th, 2022, the CVRD invited regional residents, business owners, community groups, and those interested in three stream curbside collection, to participate in an inclusive engagement process to gather their thoughts on the future of three stream curbside collection. The goal of this engagement was to listen and learn from the community about their ideas, priorities, concerns, and preferences when implementing three stream curbside collection for households that receive curbside service in CVRD Electoral Areas.

Read the Public Engagement Summary Findings Report and the two-page Public Engagement Summary Report to see what we learned from our community in Phase 1.

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities: Phase 2 Engagement

Taking what we have learned from the First Phase of engagement, Phase 2, beginning in early 2023, will focus on sharing a set of three-stream design options for the community to provide feedback on.

See “stay informed” on the right-hand panel to sign up for project updates.