Public ready for aggressive waste reduction measures, despite cost

In the first of its “Spring Series” of public consultations on waste, Metro Vancouver staff heard loud and clear that waste reduction is a top priority, despite the cost.

The first public meeting was held on April 1 in Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini’s backyard. Metro staff kept emphasizing to the audience that the more aggressively we try to reduce our waste, the more it will cost us.

Undeterred, the 40 to 50 members of the public who showed up for the meeting voted at the end of the evening in support of the most ambitious diversion targets.

In an electronic vote, over 70 percent of the participants voted for diversion targets higher than the 70 percent target set by Metro Vancouver in its draft waste management plan.

The next meeting will be on the North Shore. It will happen on April 22 from 7–9 p.m. at the Eagles Banquet Hall, 170 West 3rd St., North Vancouver. Go to the Metro Web site to register or submit your views.

Helen Spiegelman is a Vancouver-based environmentalist and blog coordinator. Read more at Zero Waste.