Ladysmith's “split truck” allows pickup of garbage and organics on alternating weeks, or recyclables and organics at the same time. / Town of Ladysmith.In 1995, Ladysmith became the first community in the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) to introduce bi-weekly curbside collection of recyclables. Then, in 1999, it considered launching a curbside organics pick-up program. However, there were no local service providers to process the organics and the costs were too high to send the waste to the mainland for processing. However, by the time the Town came to tender its waste collection service in 2005, two processing plants had been established in the mid-island, with the International Composting Corporation (ICC) facility located less than 20 km away. This allowed Ladysmith to include an organics collection component as part of its solid waste collection requirements.
In January 2006, Ladysmith became the first municipality in B.C. to offer residential curbside pick-up of organic waste. Almost 33 tonnes of organic waste are diverted each month to the ICC facility. The production of methane gas and leachate, two common by-products of organics in a landfill, has been significantly reduced. This initiative has also reduced the transport of residual garbage off island by approximately one "B train" sized tandem trailer per month, eliminating one return truck trip to the Cache Creek landfill.
Engagement and Governance
Conducting outreach to achieve buy-in from community members was essential to the project's success. / Town of Ladysmith.As a member municipality of the CVRD, Ladysmith endorsed the zero waste goal adopted by the CVRD in its solid waste management plan and chose to take a leadership role in pursuing organics composting. Staff and Council had ongoing discussion for many years regarding the establishment of organics collection. Key players included the Mayor and Council, City Manager, Director of Public Works, other local and CVRD staff, and the ICC facility. The public works department has monitored and evaluated the program since it began. The public was not fully engaged until Ladysmith had a service to offer.
The most important factors for the project’s development were the availability of an organics processing facility and competitive pricing for collection.
Policy Framework
Households in single family homes and duplexes are required to participate in the organics recycling pick-up under bylaw. Multi-family complexes do not receive waste collection services from the town.
Implementation
In September 2005, the municipality contracted a private company to begin organics pick-up once per week. The company helped design collection containers and determined the schedule for pick up. The Town negotiated which products would be collected with ICC. The contractor decided it needed to buy a new “split truck” that would allow pickup of garbage and organics on alternating weeks, or recyclables and organics at the same time. Delivery of the new truck took three to four months.
During this time, the Town worked with its private composting partner to develop and deliver an extensive public education campaign. The following activities were part of the campaign:
- An information booth was set up at local events, with city councillors staffing and answering questions
- A 45-minute presentation was created by town staff, delivered to all local elementary and high school students
- Advertisements and news articles appeared in local newspapers
- Media in Vancouver and Victoria provided news coverage of the program
- Information flyers were mailed out with utility bills and the Town website offered similar information to residents
- Posters announcing the program were displayed at various locations throughout the town
- Local retailers distributed information flyers about the new collection program
Each household received a kitchen container for food scraps, a wheeled green bin for compost pick-up, and bio-degradable bags to line the green bin. / Town of Ladysmith. The week before organics collection began, the solid waste collection service provider delivered to each single/duplex family home:
- A four litre under-the-sink container to collect food scraps and soiled paper
- A 45-litre green bin on wheels with a secure lid to take to the curb
- 10 biodegradable bags to line the large collection bin
Printed information inside each bin included a collection schedule, a list of what could go into the organics bin, an explanation of why the town decided to begin the program, and a note explaining the costs to residents (an 85 cent increase in monthly waste collection charges).
The new collection schedule began February 6, 2006. Organics are picked up weekly while recyclables and non-organic garbage continued to be picked up bi-weekly on an alternating schedule.
Results
40% of what was previously collected as garbage is now being composted.
- The amount of residual garbage sent to the Cache Creek landfill fell from 71% of total waste in 2005 to 37% in 2006
- People in Ladysmith have increased their other recycling 14 per cent since organic waste collection began. The Town attributes this higher participation rate to the public education efforts for the organics program.
- Although household participation in the organics program is required by town bylaw, being involved in this pioneering effort has given residents a sense of pride. They know that they and their town are making a difference.
- Stronger relationships among municipal departments and with other municipalities, and between the public and private sectors have developed.
- Contracts with Waste Services Inc. and International Composting Corporation have provided local jobs and ultimately strengthen Ladysmith’s economy.
- At least four local businesses now offer compostable bags. These bags can be used to line the residents under the sink organic containers.
To build on these results, some important "next steps" for Ladysmith are to:
- Enforce the existing by-law to obtain greater compliance from residents
- Introduce organics collection to multi-family complexes
- Assist other urban areas within the Cowichan Valley to begin organics collection
- Continue to provide information to other communities on the establishment and progress of the curbside
Due to Ladysmith’s success with organic waste collection, the Capital Regional District, the Regional District of Nanaimo and three other municipalities in the CVRD are planning their own organic waste collection programs. Because the ICC plant is located in Duke Point, south Vancouver Island has a state-of-the-art facility ready to accept and process organic waste.
Lessons Learned
- Communicate throughout the process
- Have the courage to provide necessary leadership
- Be prepared to adapt if change is not well received
- Celebrate success and ensure it provides incentive for other projects
- Involve the whole community at the outset, not just the single family residents. This keeps everyone engaged and informed even if it is not possible to offer them the service right away.