MAY 2017

BC FIRST NATIONSSOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Acknowledgements

Lil’wat Nation

BC First Nations in the Solid Waste Program

Roger Vickers, Artist

Indigenous Services Canada

Partners (MOE, Regional Disricts, Associations, Product Stewards, training sponsors, teachers, and many more)

BCEIA

Outline

What is the BC First Nations Solid Waste Program?‐ Origin‐ Approach‐ Funding

Some Examples of Outcomes‐ Moving Towards Zero Waste

Moving Forward‐ First Nations on Waste Management Association Boards‐ BC Indigenous Solid Waste Technical Advisory Group

BC First Nations

• 198 First Nations

• (1/3 of total First Nations in Canada)

• Various sizes, geography, 30+ languages

To‐date:        35 CommunitiesFY 2018‐19:  Plus 26 CommunitiesPopulation Size:  From 50 to 1800 people

B.C. First NationsSolid Waste Program Communities

Welcome!New Communities

January 2018:Esk’etemcXeni Gwet’inYunesit’in

FY 2018-19 Bulkley-Nechako Region (1)Cariboo Region (4)Kitimat-Stkine Region (6)North East/North West Region ( 4)North Vancouver Island (6)Southern BC (5)Total 26 Communities

Recommendations:Close local unregulated landfills

Transfer to permitted facilities

Promote 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

Program Start – 2007 Solid Waste Report(16 Remote Coastal Communities)

New Approach to Waste Management

Majority of waste can be recycled

Snapshot Waste Audit Results -Environmental & Health Concerns-Align with B.C. Waste Management System

Coastal Solid Waste Program Work Plan – FY 2010-11

750 Km Coastline

• Mismatch between Regional District (waste shed) boundaries and coastal barge/ferry routes

• Limited & costly transport options

• Long waste storage times

• Already local community efforts to recycle/compost

• Local knowledge & service providers

• Goodwill & co-operation from all

B.C.’s Waste Management System

Environmental Management Act Regulations:

BC Landfill Criteria for Municipal Solid WasteLandfill Gas Management RegulationsLandfill Operations permitsBC Recycling Regulation

Environmental Management Act Regulations:

BC Landfill Criteria for Municipal Solid WasteLandfill Gas Management RegulationsLandfill Operations permitsBC Recycling Regulation

Organized by Regional District:• Waste Management Plans

must include 5Rs• Strict Landfill Construction

and Operating Requirements

B.C.’s Waste Management System

BC Recycling Regulation includes:Extended Producer Responsibility (aka Product Stewardship)• Industry is responsible for

managing the life cycle of the products and packaging they create and distribute

• Shift cost from taxpayer to industry (eco-fees, deposits)

https://www.rcbc.ca/recycling-programs/epr

B.C.’s Waste Management SystemWhat’s Ahead

Upcoming EPR programs:• Furniture (and mattresses)• Textiles and carpet• Construction and demolition materials

B.C. Ministry of Environment Service Plan2014/15 – 2016/17

Organic waste disposal ban from landfill

2019/20 Target: 75% Organics ban350kg/person solid waste disposal

Implementation RequiredTeam approach + Strong relationships

ISC (policy/resources)

Professional Support

(planning, engineering,

science)

Community (solid waste

working group, Chief & Council)

•Regional Districts•Province (MOE)•Product Stewards•Service/Supply Co’s•Industry Assoc., etc.

Partners

Local knowledge and services critical to effective, sustainable solutions

Partnerships Early Collaboration – Transfer Systems

2010 to 2016:North Arm Fuel Barge monthly backhaul to Rabanco Landfill in Washington State (4 coastal communities)

Similar collaboration with local fuel barge and disposal company on Vancouver Island west coast – 3 Nuu-chah-nulth communities

Partnerships Regional District Mt. Waddington Board with Heiltsuk and Kitasoo

2015 - Waste Management Agreement Outside Regional District Boundary

Enables weekly waste transfer to 7Mile Landfill

Agreement stipulates compliance with waste diversion requirements

PartnershipsProduct Stewardship & MOE

Annual Roundtables at Coast Waste Management Association Conference

MOE supported Bella Bella’s Ecodepot receiving Special Waste Product Stewardship services

PartnershipsTraining - Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)

Level 1 CertificationSince 2015:100 Operators30 First Nations

Level 2 Organizing & Managing Transfer Stations – launched October 2017

Transfer Station & Ecodepot Operations

Training Manuals sponsored by

PartnershipsTraining - Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)

Instructors: Reinhard Trautmann and Calvin Jameson

Transfer Station & Ecodepot Operations – Level 1

SWANA Course includesField Training generously hosted at Regional Facilities and Depots

PartnershipsTraining – SWANA, Local Government & Depot Operators

PartnershipsTraining – Fox’s Disposal, Port Hardy

Curbside Collection of Recycle BC Materials

Mentoring and Knowledge TransferGenerously Offered to Central and North Coast communities

PartnershipsPractical Training

Freon Appliance DepollutionPractical In-Field Training at ABC Recycling, Burnaby, 2017

Trainees also attended BCIT Course:HVAC 0145 - Canada’s Ozone Layer Protection Awareness Program for HVAC and Refrigeration

Step-by-Step ProgramIn Community

Ahousaht Freestore

Community Garden /Composting

Free Store Day in Bella Bella

INTERIM TRIALS

Free Store Day

Community Solid Waste Working Groups

Gitxaala(Kitkatla)

Xwisten(Bridge River)

Local Knowledge, Innovation+Long-Term Commitment

Local ChallengesInterim Trial of Waste Bin at ?Esdilagh

• Wildlife – bears, ravens, eagles• Rugged Weather – wind, snow, rain • Isolation – coastal, interior

Solutions to fit

?Esdilagh Transfer Station

Solar-powered bear fence

Carcass pit

Waste and Recycling Bins with Raised Platform for Access

Remote Interior CommunityPopulation:  50

Local Knowledge

Recycling collected in mega-bags

Transported back to Prince George in empty grocery truck

Kwadacha at Fort Ware

580 km north of Prince George

Local Knowledge + Innovation

Community CompostingHeiltsuk (Bella Bella)

Compost SystemDesigned & Built Locally

Cage doors to deter animals Concrete pad

Stalls wide enough for skidsteer bucket

Weather protection

Similar system now in use in other communities

Community Education SupportTeachers, Health Clinic, Elders

Kitkatla Health Fair Ahousaht Teacher

Skeetchestn Elders

Image-Based Guide pioneered by GitxaalaElementary School Teacher

Recycling Best PracticeImage-Based Guide

Community EducationChildren’s Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq_eyR6Q61E

Latest collaboration between ISC and First Nations School teachers

Binder+

Toolkit

Examples from First Nations

Bella Bella -Heiltsuk First NationMoving towards Zero Waste

Located in the Great Bear Rainforest on B.C.’s Central Coast, and home to 1,500 residents.  

• Active 4Rs Program

• Community Compost diverts 100 tonnes/year

• Per capita landfill disposal at one-half BC average

Ahousaht First NationMoving towards Zero Waste

Located in the Clayoqout Sound Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island, and home to 850 residents.  

Recycling and Community Composting reduced monthly garbage from 5 bins to 2 bins (40 cu. yd. ea.)

Gitxaala NationMoving towards Zero Waste

Recycle BC (MMBC) CollectorGarbage collection reduced to once/week

Roger Vickers, Public Works Staff and Artist

North Coast Island ‐ Kitkatla Population 500

Lil’wat NationMoving towards Zero Waste

Mount Currie ‐ Population 1800

• Transport using own truck and trailer

• Diverts 125 tonnes of steel and 33 tonnes of cardboardannually

• Depollutes fridges and freezers on site

Lil’wat NationUpgrades to Meet Challenges and New Requirements

• Upgrading transfer station to sort more recyclable materials and to supervise drop-off

• Provide consolidation services to nearby communities

Lil’wat compactors for garbage, cardboard and containers installed in 2012 Lil’wat Proposed Upgrades, 2018

Solid Waste Funding

• Capital infrastructure – 100% ISC*• Operations & maintenance – For

non-block funded Nations, cost-shared (generally 80% ISC, 20% community)

• Waste/recycling transfer & disposal –same as for O&M (“MTSA”)

• Training support – ISC plus partners

• Supplemental grant programs – ISC LEDSP (Lands & Economic Development Services Program) Annual grants of up to $5,000 per community or school

• Incentives and subsidies from EPR programs

• User fees – some communities recover cost from commercial users

• Other revenues – e.g. metals value

*ISC = Indigenous Services Canada, previously INAC

First Nations RepresentationIndustry Associations

Calvin JamesonDirector

Solid Waste Association of North America – BC & Yukon

Leo LawsonDirector

Coast Waste Management Association

Looking Ahead

Establish BC Indigenous Solid Waste Technical Advisory Group:

Annual and 5-year plansResources for Infrastructure and OperationsSystem approach to shared challengesConsolidated technical servicesTraining Peer supportAdvocacy

Annual News…

Thank You

BC First NationsSolid Waste Program