Skip to content

Talking trash in Mission

Diversion rate goes up 10 per cent, but some people still mixing garbage and recycling
8398308_web1_garbage
Do you know what you can and can’t put in your blue recycle bags? / Kevin Mills Photo

Mission residents appear to be recycling more effectively than in previous years.

A staff report to council states that the curbside diversion rate in Mission has improved by 10 per cent from the previous year.

According to the report, overall curbside diversion for the year increased from an average 51.4 per cent for the first three months of 2016 to an average 67 per cent from April on.

The overall 2016 curbside diversion rate was 63.1 per cent, up from 53.2 per cent in 2015.

The district currently provides separate collection of recyclables and compost from single-family and multi-family households, as well as free drop-off options for many recyclable materials at the Mission Landfill and the Mission Recycling Depot.

In order to encourage better waste separation, Mission’s single-family garbage collection program was switched to a bi-weekly schedule in April of 2016.

Both compost and recyclables continue to be collected on a weekly basis.

The 63.1 per cent diversion rate puts Mission close to the 65 per cent rate it needs to reach to maintain the Fraser Valley Regional District’s guidelines.

The FVRD requires member communities to reach the 65 per cent rate by 2018 and 80 per cent by 2020. The overall zero-waste target is 90 per cent diversion by all waste-producing sectors by 2025.

While the increase in diversion is considered good news, council raised many issues that still need to be improved.

Mission Mayor Randy Hawes said several difficulties have come to light since the district joined with Recycle BC (formerly MMBC).

He said the many rules and conditions put forward by Recycle BC – like no longer accepting stretchy plastic, for example – are actually putting more items into the solid waste stream.

“Something is very seriously wrong with the whole Recycle BC program,” said Hawes.

Mission has two recycling centres, one run by Recycle BC and Encorp, the other by the district. Hawes said he has received many complaints about the provincially run depot.

“We should have the right to run our recycling program the way that we choose to run it as long as we meet diversion standards and we are there. They [Recycle BC] are hurting us, though, from advancing,” said Hawes, adding the program is “hurting” the community.

Coun. Carol Hamilton agreed that the new provincial recycling rules have been confusing.

“I think more people now are just giving up and just putting it in the garbage,” said Hamilton, who is looking forward to the next garbage audit to see what people are throwing away.

Coun. Danny Plecas said there are still some “glaring concerns” with the system and that “citizens are frustrated.”

After seeing what some people place in blue recycle bags, including diapers, Coun. Pam Alexis said she was amazed.

“I was shocked at the contamination. The food particles and things, needles, it’s off the chart. People, wake up. This is recycling not garbage,” she said.

There is a need to educate people on what is and isn’t recyclable under the provincial system.

Hawes has again asked staff to set up a meeting with officials from Recycle BC and Encorp, in the Mission council chambers, to answer some of these questions.



Kevin Mills

About the Author: Kevin Mills

I have been a member of the media for the past 34 years and became editor of the Mission Record in February of 2015.
Read more