People produce way too much waste these days, whether it is garbage or air pollution, and there are ways to reduce.
In an effort to reduce waste, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) is considering a program for Area C that would reduce compostable material that goes to the landfill.
It would be funded through taxes as well as an estimated $80 per year, an amount Area C residents would pick up the tab on.
The program would see residents dividing their waste into three categories; waste from the kitchen, “co-mingled” recyclables and the regular garbage. The RDKB would provide bins for composting.
It would also call for garbage trucks to be outfitted with separate compartments for garbage and recyclables and the aim would be to reduce the amount of waste.
According to the RDKB solid waste program co-ordinator Tim Dueck, if the amount of waste headed to area landfills remain as it is, it will be full in 35 years and it will be “messy.”
Dividing garbage into three would certainly go a long way into waste reduction and while no one likes paying more taxes, the ultimate goal is to reduce the waste stream, which is noble.
Although there are some in the area that already compost, it’s nice to see that the RDKB is considering providing people with a container in which to put waste that really doesn’t need to go to the dump – the regional district would like to see an increase in composting.
The RDKB would be, in a sense, promoting composting and recycling with the proposed program and while some may not be happy with an increased bill, the goal of reducing waste is worthwhile.
Besides, composted material can serve as soil for gardens, so there is a good use for kitchen scraps and the like.
People like to say that bigger cities have more air pollution and throw out more waste than smaller towns and while that criticism has merit, big cities, like Vancouver, also have curbside recycling programs as well.
A lot of people in the area are environmentally conscious and should support an increase in composting.