Beyond the Bin: Solid Waste Planning in the ACRD

The Solid Waste Management Plan Phase 2 survey with proposed strategies to reduce waste in the region is now closed.

Thank you to everyone who participated in an Open House or shared their feedback online. Gift certificate winners are now being contacted.

The results of the fall 2024 engagement will be shared on this page in early 2025.

Port Alberni - Join the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) this fall as we share eight proposed strategies to help reduce solid waste in the Region.

Over the past year, the ACRD has updated its long-term Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) with new draft guiding principles, goals, and strategies. The work is based on community feedback provided last year and the work and input of the district’s SWMP Advisory Committee.

The target is to help the ACRD reduce its waste by 35 per cent by 2035.

The strategies will be available for public input, starting Wednesday, October 10, 2024.

“The plan has grown so much since we last heard from the public,” said Tom Stere, vice-chair of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for the ACRD. “This is an opportunity for the public to help refine our work before a draft plan is developed.”

Attend a Waste Reduction Open House and provide your feedback

• Alberni Athletic Hall, Thursday, Oct. 17, 5 -7 pm (residents)
• Ucluelet Community Centre, Monday Oct. 28, 9 - 11 am (businesses); 5 -7 pm (residents)
• Tofino Legion, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 9-11 am (businesses);
  Tofino Community Hall 5 -7 pm (residents);
• Beaver Creek Community Hall, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 5 -7 pm;
• Sproat Lake Community Hall, Thursday, Nov. 7, 5 - 7 pm;
• Cherry Creek Community Hall, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 5 - 7 pm;

These Open Houses will be supplemented by presentations and meetings with First Nations and interested community organizations throughout the engagement period.

Join Us Online

Share your feedback at www.letsconnectacrd.ca/swmp before Nov. 20, 2024, and enter to win one of three $50 gift certificates to local retailers or restaurants in the Alberni Valley, West Coast, and Bamfield.

For more updates on the plan and next steps, follow along at letsconnectacrd.ca/swmp.

About The Solid Waste Management Plan + Survey

Regional Districts are required to create plans for managing waste. The ACRD’s current Solid Waste Management Plan is now more than 10 years old and the goals it established have been achieved. The ACRD is now focused on developing a new plan that reflects the needs of the region today. This extensive plan development includes an Advisory Committee of representatives from local communities and business sectors across the region, a technical review, and ongoing opportunities for public input. The project is now in Phase 2 of consultation, with the draft plan due to the Province in spring 2025.

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For more information

Heather Thomson, Communications Coordinator

250-206-5162

We know you haven't heard from us in awhile, but there's still a lot of work happening on the Solid Waste Management Plan for the ACRD.

The Advisory Committee, which consists of members of the public, First Nations, municipal staff, School District 70 and more, is working hard at moving the plan process forward, through a series of meetings to determine principles, guidelines and developing options to meet our future goals 'beyond the bin'.

To keep you informed about the work that is ongoing, the ACRD will post summaries of the Advisory Committee meetings with key discussion points, next steps and more!

Check them out under "Advisory Committee Meeting Summaries" - on the right side of the page!

Did you know that across the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, recyclables and food waste are the top waste types created in homes?

Or that the majority of people are using recycle depots regularly? And that recyclable containers are the most commonly returned item?

These are just a few of the insights gleaned from our recent Beyond the Bin: Solid Waste Planning in the ACRD Survey. The survey, which was live for 28 days, asked residents about how they use waste services now, their satisfaction with the services, and their interest in future changes. Over 450 people responded to the survey from across the regional district.

A summary report of the survey results and Phase 1 engagement activities is now posted.

The results of this survey will help the ACRD consider future options for waste services as they continue work on the Solid Waste Management Plan.

Thanks to all who participated! Three lucky winners of the $50 gift certificate draw have been contacted.

Port Alberni - Join the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) for a free movie screening of the Canadian-made documentary Scrap – a film about what happens to things when people are finished with them and how some people are reimagining those materials into something new.

The screening event will be held Oct. 17, marking the kick-off of a community survey from the ACRD. The survey aims to gather valuable insight on how our residents currently create and manage waste. It is the first stage of public engagement in the new Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) process now underway.

“Asking people to think about waste in a different way will be a key part of the SWMP process,” said Jodie Frank, solid waste project coordinator for the ACRD. “We need to understand that garbage doesn’t just go away and switch focus to how we can reduce it and how it can be treated like a resource. We want to think ‘Beyond the Bin’, and this film is a great tie - we’re excited to share it with the community.”

Join us: Scrap Movie Screening and Survey Launch
• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6 - 8 pm
• Char’s Landing, 4815 Argyle St.
• Free Admission - PLEASE RSVP (spaces are limited) at bit.ly/acrdscrap

ABOUT SCRAP
SCRAP is a love letter to the things we use in our daily lives. This cinematic documentary tells the story of people who each have a deep connection to objects that have reached their 'end of life'. Together these stories convey a deeper environmental and human message about our relationship to things, the sadness we feel at their eventual loss, and the joy that we can find in giving them a new purpose. https://scrapdoc.ca/

At their Sept. 13 meeting, the ACRD's Board approved the appointment of the Public Advisory Committee for the Solid Waste Management Plan. These members will review information, provide feedback and act as a liaison with the community to relay information and comments. Congrats to all - and thank you for your interest!

Here's the list of Public Members:

UPDATE: Thank you to all who submitted applications for the advisory committee. The application window is now closed -watch for updates about the committee and next steps here!

A critical part of the Solid Waste Management Plan process is the leadership of an Advisory Committee. The committee receives and reviews information and provides feedback and advice. Members play an integral role in the plan process and are invited to ask questions, engage in discussions, and provide comment.

Members can be actively involved in waste management: ie: waste haulers, recycle depot operations or construction associations – or can be interested members of the general public. The ACRD will seek representation from a diverse group of interest and sectors.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.