Zero Waste

What is Zero Waste? | Zero Waste in BC | Zero Waste Resources | Articles and Documents | Related Links 

What is Zero Waste?

Zero Waste is a philosophy and a goal. Only by “closing the loop” can we hope to develop a sustainable economy.

The idea is to reduce consumption as much as possible by using design-for-environment in all products and their packaging, and to make all products and packaging recyclable.

Achieving Zero Waste depends on designing products and industrial processes so that their components can be dismantled, repaired and/or recycled.

Zero Waste means linking communities, businesses and industries so that one's waste becomes another’s feedstock. It means preventing pollution at its source. It means new local jobs in communities throughout British Columbia.

Zero Waste Initiatives in British Columbia

• In June 2006, RCBC redefined its mission statement to be a multi-sectoral organization promoting the principles of Zero Waste through information services, the exchange of ideas, and research. A milestone for RCBC as more and more regions in the province moves toward making Zero Waste its goal.

• On May 26, 2006 the Greater Vancouver Regional District directors voted unanimously to adopt a Zero Waste philosophy. The GVRD plans to work towards a Zero Waste goal by providing programs and services to promote and encourage both producer responsibility and user responsibility practices.

• In March 2002, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary approved a proposed zero waste strategy for the region. The RDKB endorsed the concept of zero waste in November 2000. The new strategy, called “Bringing Zero Waste to Kootenay Boundary – A Strategy for a Waste Free Future” provides a blueprint for moving from concept to implementation. It consists of eight initiatives to be pursued at the local level and ten initiatives involving local government efforts to influence change at the provincial level. The strategy is broad-based, targeting increased materials efficiencies in businesses, local economic development through “resource recovery” and public policy renewal to facilitate the development of a zero waste economy.

• In the spring of 2002, the Regional District of Nanaimo sent 23,000 information packages, emblazoned with a new logo and the phrase, ‘zero waste, beyond recycling’, to households in its collection program. The package included a “Zero Waste” newsletter, a garbage and recycling collection program guide, and a five-year collection schedule. The RDN also distributed the first edition of a second “Zero Waste” newsletter to 31,000 households that do not receive RDN collection services. The RDN adopted the goal of zero waste in 2001 to address its urgent disposal capacity shortfall. Currently exporting one quarter of its solid waste to Cache Creek, RDN residents are faced with the prospect of significantly increased disposal costs in the event that all wastes are exported to the mainland. For more information visit the Regional District of Nanaimo Website. 

• The Town of Smithers, BC is developing a zero waste vision and community action plan. Information on the how zero waste can benefit the local economy and provide new jobs is featured on the Zero Waste North website.

• In June 2002, the board of directors of Ridge Meadows Recycling Society adopted a “Plan for Zero Waste”. The Society, a community-based recycler celebrating its 30 anniversary in 2002, intends to raise awareness about the concept of zero waste at all levels of government and to “lobby business and industry to adopt policies and practices to make zero waste a reality.”

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Zero Waste Resources

On the Road to Zero Waste: Priorities for Local Governments
Released: June 2009

Summary:
This report provides guidance to municipal and regional governments across B.C. on the actions, tools and opportunities available to them to increase the 3Rs and move closer to achieving zero waste.

Zero Waste One Step at a Time - Benefits and Applications for Retail Businesses
Released: May 2002

This discussion paper introduces the concept of zero waste as a tool that will assist retail and other types of businesses to not only increase their economic efficiency but also move towards long term sustainability in our overall economy.

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Articles and Documents

1. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Management Strategies with a Zero Waste Objective - Study of the Solid Waste Management System in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia by Jeffrey Moris, Sound Resource Management (June 2009)
2. Why the Vancouver Region Should Fund & Promote 3Rs not 2Ds by Jeffrey Morris, Sound Resource Management (June 2009)
3. Transitioning to Zero Waste - What can local governments do NOW? by Helen Spiegelman (March 20, 2006)
4. EPR + Organics = Zero Waste by Bill Sheehan and Helen Spiegelman (April 4, 2006)
5. The Ripple Effect of Zero Waste by Michael Jessen (published in Reiterate, Spring/Summer 2001)
6. Zero Waste (106KB pdf) by the Regional District of Nanaimo
7. Discarding the Idea of Waste - The Need for a Zero Waste Policy in British Columbia by Michael Jessen (2000)
8. Zero Waste - No Longer Content to Just Recycle Waste, Environmentalists Want Us to Reduce it to Nothing by Jim Motavalli (published in E Magazine, April 2001)
9. Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken (published in Mother Jones Magazine, May 1997)

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Related Links

Eco-efficiency
Grass Roots Recycling Network
NewBC
Redefining Progress
Smart Growth BC
TargetZero Canada
Vancouver 2010- ZeroWaste
Zero Emissions Research Initiative
Zero Waste Alliance
Zero Waste New Zealand
Zero Waste North

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