Rethink Waste Newsletter

May 2025

Residents threw out less garbage in 2024

People in the capital region are creating less garbage – and that’s good news. In 2024, the average person threw away 338 kilograms of garbage, a 44 kilogram or 11.6% decrease from 2023. This brings the Capital Regional District closer to achieving our Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) target of 250 kgs per capita by 2031.

Several factors have contributed to the significant decrease including the 2024 Hartland Landfill policy changes, increased beneficial use activities at Hartland Landfill and the implementation of Waste Stream Collectors Incentive Program.

Hartland Landfill Producing Renewable Natural Gas for FortisBC

The Hartland Renewable Natural Gas Facility is now in operation, the first of its kind on Vancouver Island!

The biogas facility captures methane gas from the landfill and turns it into renewable energy, helping power our region while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Community Events and Workshops

May 29 - Zero Waste Living Workshop | Ecologyst & Compost Education Centre (Registration required)

June 1 - Repair Cafe | Zero Waste Sooke

June 5 - Mending Workshop: Button Repair | Ecologyst (Registration required)

June 7 - Repair Cafe | Fairfield Gonzales Community Association

June 7 - Clothing Swap | Fairfield Gonzales Community Association

June 7 - Composting Basics | Compost Education Centre (Registration required)

June 8 - Clover Point Beach Cleanup | Surfrider South Vancouver Island

June 11 - Designing Products That Last | Design Victoria

June 21 - North Saanich Repair Cafe | Repair Café North Saanich

July 8 - Lunch + Learn: 5 Easy Ways to be a Sustainable Vendor | Vancouver Island Wedding Industry Association (Registration required)

July 13 - Witty's Lagoon Beach Cleanup | Surfrider South Vancouver Island

August 10 - Esquimalt Lagoon Beach Cleanup | Surfrider South Vancouver Island

August 24 - School Supplies Swap | Zero Waste Sooke

Want to get the word out about an event related to waste reduction in the region? Email rethinkwaste@crd.bc.ca to get it added to the list.

Rethink Waste Grant

TC10k

The TC10k received funding from the Rethink Waste Grant to hire a waste sorting consultant, which resulted in the entire event producing less than one bag of garbage! A team of volunteers set up multiple collection stations that fed into a centralized sorting hub, where waste was carefully sorted into separate categories to maximize diversion and keep materials out of the landfill. Watch the video to learn how the TC10k accomplished this.

If you have a creative idea to reduce waste in the capital region, now’s the perfect time to bring it to life. Under the Rethink Waste Grant umbrella you can apply for the Community Grant or the Zero-Waste Event Grant.

Apply Now

News Tibits and Updates

Home Demolition Waste Prevention Forum

The Home Demolition Waste Prevention Forum will take place online and in person on June 2 in New Westminster. The purpose of this forum is to bring together local governments and industry representatives to share knowledge and explore policy approaches for responsible alternatives to residential demolition, such as home relocation, home repurposing, and home deconstruction.

Learn More

Teardown Home Transformed Into Garden Boxes

Salvaged wood from a local demolition site has been transformed into six accessible garden plots, thanks to a partnership between Yates Street Community Garden and ReWood Victoria, with funding support from the Rethink Waste Grant. ReWood tweaked their designs to create raised beds called “trugs” that allow prime accessibility for folks using a variety of mobility aids.

The Sooke Bottle Depot Accepts More Materials for Free

In March, the Sooke Bottle Depot began accepting all Recycle BC materials for free which includes non-deposit glass bottles and jars, flexible plastic, mixed containers, cardboard, Styrofoam and paper. The depot also accepts small appliances, batteries, light bulbs and more!

Learn More

City of Victoria Launches Beyond the Curb

Beyond the Curb is a new weekend recycling hub for residents to drop-off flexible plastics, Styrofoam, small electronics and small appliances. Run by the City of Victoria at 1234 Yates Street, it will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm, May through December. Residents can also drop off materials at Beyond the Curb collection tents at the Moss Street, James Bay and Oaklands Sunset Markets throughout their respective seasons.

Learn More

Ask the CRD's Infoline

Q: What glass products can be recycled in my curbside blue box?

A: Non-deposit glass bottles and jars packaged and purchased with a product inside like salad dressings, oils, vinegar, pickles, jam, and ketchup is accepted into the curbside blue box program, or dropped off free at a depot.

Return refundable glass beverage containers, like wine, spirit, and beer bottles to a depot to receive your 10 cent deposit back.

Glass must be separated from other recycling items and placed into their own blue box or tote similar in size. CRD offers a pink glass adhesive label to identify your glass bin to the collection driver. If you would like a sticker, please email infoline@crd.bc.ca with your address.

Examples of glass not accepted in the blue box program are ceramics, cookware, dishes, or windows. No broken glass is accepted into the curbside collection program.

Have a question about waste and recycling? Email your questions to infoline@crd.bc.ca.

Policy, Planning, Contracts and Staff Reports

A round-up of the latest solid waste policy and planning reports and contracts by staff to inform the CRD Board and Environmental Services Committee.

Request for Proposals - Disaster Debris Management Planning

Consultants are invited to submit proposals to develop a Regional Disaster Debris Framework, including a Common-use Disaster Debris Management Plan for the CRD and a Disaster Debris Management Plan specific to the City of Victoria.

Request for Proposals - 2025 Solid Waste Generator Study

Consultants are invited to submit proposals to undertake a Solid Waste Generator Study to help the CRD gather data on where waste in generated, such as a household, business, industry or community. The study will provide insights into the patterns of waste generation, understand the composition of the waste stream and identify opportunities for waste reduction, recycling or proper disposal.

Solid Waste Management Plan - 2024 Progress Report

The report identifies the 2024 progress made towards implementing the Solid Waste Management Plan.

Hartland Public Drop-off - Extension of Expanded Hours Pilot

The CRD Board approved extending the pilot period to October 31, 2025 to ensure a full year’s

worth of data can be collected and analyzed before presenting results and recommendations.

Wildlife Attractants in the Capital Region

Staff will invite municipalities and electoral areas to participate in a wildlife attractants working group to address root causes of human-bear interactions and consider corresponding policy or bylaw development. Additionally the CRD Board directed staff to explore creating a public awareness campaign.

Hartland Landfill Tonnage Report

A monthly report that provides a summary of general refuse received at Hartland Landfill.