New Westminster's diversion rate nearly doubles in two years
Curbside residential waste diversion in New Westminster has nearly doubled in two years, according to a report to city council.
In 2009 about 31 per cent of waste from single-family dwellings did not end up in the landfill. In 2010, the diversion rate was 40 per cent, and that leapt to 59 per cent in 2011. Metro Vancouver is targeting all its communities to eventually have a 70 per cent diversion rate for all waste including apartment complexes and commercial.
The report said in 2011, single-family residents diverted more than 4,600 metric tonnes of organic and recyclable material from the garbage stream, which is a rise of 14 per cent from 2010 and 25 per cent from 2009 before curbside food scrap collection was set up in New West.
Since the city began collecting organic materials from homes last year, the amount left at the city's recycling depot dropped by nearly 1,000 metric tonnes.
The city is hopeful its introduction of a single-stream recycling bin that doesn't require residents to sort will increase the diversion rate for curbside collection.
Expansion of multi-family and school food scraps programs, public space recycling, community education and a review of the solid waste bylaw are planned for 2012.
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