Janine Dougall, Director of Environmental Services for the Regional District of Buckley-Nechako, discussed with the Burns Lake council the recently announced plan to ban cardboard from all waste regional transfer stations.
Dougall reiterated the reasoning behind the decision - to promote waste reduction, and to create demand for local recycling and waste management businesses. As of now the official launch date for the ban has been changed to July 1, 2016, adjusted from Jan. 1, 2016, which was altered due to unforeseen challenges.
Dougall wanted to reassure the local institutional/commercial/industrial (ICI) sector that there are already multiple providers of cardboard recycling both regionally and locally, and the next step for the regional district is to create a list of these services in order to make local businesses aware of their options. Dougall also explained that there are ICI bins currently at the local Recycling Depot that businesses can use at a cost, however it is yet to be determined if a longer-term agreement can be reached in order to keep the bins at the depot.
Dougall described how the new recycling depot in Burns Lake is a part of the Multi Material B.C. (MMBC) program which was launched provincially in order to ensure service for residentially produced recyclable materials. Dougall clarified that the MMBC program excludes the ICI sector which is why businesses are responsible for their own recycling management and cost.
The bottom line according to Dougall is that the taxpayer will have to pay for it regardless “through either recycling or landfill development.” Dougall believes that the longer the district can prolong the life of the landfills, the better it is for all taxpayers.
“If we see less garbage going into landfills we see cost savings directly,” she said.
Dougall added in response to a question from councilor Susan Schienbein that any cost savings would be passed on to the taxpayer or allocated to additional services.
Councilor Schienbein also brought up the issue of enforcement. Dougall replied that how the regional district will enforce and move forward with this process still needs to be worked out.
“Potentially there will be a fine or you’ll be turned around or something of that nature,” she said.
However, Dougall wants to conduct a positive education/awareness campaign that helps create an arrangement residents are happy to participate in.
“We don’t want to be nasty about it.”
The council meeting continued with several other issues of interest. A committee of the whole meeting was also scheduled for Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. to review questions from the council regarding the Eighth Avenue/Center Street resurfacing project. The meeting is public and there will be a public comment portion after the meeting. However, no public questions will be answered. Councilors are allowed to ask questions on behalf of residents if they are submitted the day before the meeting.
The Coastal Gas Link Pipeline project has requested from council a letter of support. The council voted and agreed that one should be given on the condition that it be mentioned in the letter that Burns Lake council is a member of both the Northwest Benefit Alliance and the Legacy Fund, and that participation from industry in the funds is vital to the success of both.
Council also discussed the economic development plan steering committee. It was noted by the Burns Lake Chamber of Commerce that the proposed committee consisted solely of village of Burns Lake staff and councilors. It was agreed that there should be more representation from community members, and that an application process for two additional members should be completed by the end of the month. The plan for the committee is to conduct a number of public consultations with local businesses, non-profit organizations and community agencies within six weeks once the new members are selected in order to develop a common vision for economic development in the Lakes District. Final draft is to be completed at the end of 2015.
Councilor updates include councilors Holliday and Illes participating in the College of New Caledonia (CNC) impact study, in regards to exploring the negative impacts on the community if the Lakes District CNC branch was closed.
Councilor Illes participated in the Resource Alliance in Terrace, focusing on infrastructure deficit and the needs of municipalities, and he attended an Lakes District Arts Council meeting and noted that their first show is on Oct. 4 and new season tickets are available.
Councilor Schienbein remarked on the revitalization of the community garden and the formation of a new Burns Lake Community Garden Society who plan on visiting council at the end of September. Schienbein also had the opportunity to do an interview with CBC radio on the UBCM resolution, which was well received.
Councilor Beach attended the Burns Lake Community meeting with a group that helps Northern Health to locate and bring doctors to our region, the group seems confident that they will be able to locate doctor to come up to the new hospital.