Nelson, BC Adopts Zero Waste Action Plan

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

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Tim Hicks, 250-352-5656

Nelson, British Columbia Adopts Zero Waste Action
Plan

Nelson, British Columbia just adopted a Zero Waste Action Plan
to guide the development of their solid waste and recycling
programs.  Donna Macdonald, Chair of the Nelson Waste Management
Task Force said, "This is a significant step forward for Nelson to
view our wastes as resources.  Our Council supports Zero Waste as a
goal because it will be good for our local economy as well as good for
the environment."

In 2003, Nelson City Council struck a Waste Management Task Force to
review the City's waste management system in part to determine how to
increase diversion opportunities.  In August 2003, with funding from
the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, the Task Force
retained MJ Waste Solutions and Gary Liss & Associates to assist with
development of a Zero Waste Action Plan (ZWAP).

The ZWAP recommends policies and incentives to harness the forces of the
marketplace to achieve Zero Waste.  The ZWAP states, "The City
of Nelson and the Regional District of Central Kootenay can have major
impacts in defining what is economic, through the policies adopted in
bylaws, contracts, permits, zoning, and rate structures.  By
adjusting policies as recommended, the City and the RDCK can help
everyone benefit that eliminates and recycles waste, and let those who
choose to waste, pay higher fees for those services."

The ZWAP further recommends that the City build on existing investments
in reuse, recycling and composting in the area to minimize public
investments required.  The ZWAP also supports the development of a
Resource Recovery Park (RR Park) in the region to co-locate composting
and recycled product manufacturing businesses, and other related
innovative technologies, in or near Nelson.

The ZWAP is different from other waste management plans in that it
assumes that solid waste disposal to landfill can eventually be
eliminated with the adoption of a variety of policies and programs by the
City and the RDCK.  Zero Waste is a process that involves many
stakeholders.  The success of the strategy will depend upon
effective communication and active engagement with each of the
stakeholders to harness their interest and energy to turn solid waste
problems into resource recovery solutions.

In May 2004, Nelson's Waste Management Task Force hired a Zero Waste
Coordinator (ZWC) to lead Nelson's Zero Waste program.  The goals of
the ZWC are to reduce the amount of solid waste Nelson sends to landfill
and to encourage economic development through resource recovery
initiatives and partnerships.  The ZWC is fulfilling these goals
through the following objectives:

• linkages: creating connections between resource recovery partners; creating connections between businesses to maximize on diversion opportunities;
• awareness and diversion opportunities: conducting waste audits for businesses and multi-family dwellings; designing waste reduction strategies for businesses and multi-family dwellings;
• education: public education via media; developing ZW presentations and projects for grade schools.

The Nelson Zero Waste Plan is posted on the GrassRoots Recycling
Network website at: 
 http://www.grrn.org/assets/pdfs/action_plans/ZWActionPlan_23%20Dec%202003.pdf

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485