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.
So, what’s helping us reduce garbage?
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. For a comprehensive overview, read the 2024 SWMP Progress Report.
2024 Hartland Policy Changes
In 2024, new policies were put in place at Hartland Landfill, and they’ve made a big difference. These changes include banning some materials from being dropped off as garbage, raising the garbage tipping fee and lowering the tipping fee for materials than can be diverted. The landfill also increased fine rates for various bylaw infractions.
Because of these policies about 9,600 tonnes of wood and asphalt shingles were kept out of the garbage and were recycled or used for energy recovery.
Overview and results of the new policies at Hartland:
- Clean wood – January 2, 2024
Products consist of pallets/skids, crating, dimensional lumber, lumber offcuts- No longer allowed in garbage, including renovation waste
- Cost to drop-off separated clean wood: $80/tonne
- Diverted 1,250 tonnes of clean wood in 2024
- Treated wood – July 2, 2024
Products consist of pressure treated, painted or stained wood like particle board, plywood, wooden furniture, countertops and laminated wood.- No longer allowed in garbage, including renovation waste
- Cost to drop-off separated treated wood: $110/tonne
- Diverted 5,800 tonnes of treated wood in 2024
- Asphalt shingles – July 2, 2024
Product consists of shingles composed of a felt mat saturated with asphalt to which small rock granules are added. Tar paper/felt paper can be mixed with loads of asphalt shingles.- No longer allowed in garbage, including renovation waste
- Cost to drop-off separated asphalt shingles: $110/tonne
- Diverted 2,500 tonnes of asphalt shingles in 2024
A new Material Diversion Transfer Station (MDTS) was also built at the landfill to help process wood and asphalt shingles by shredding and chipping them, so fewer trucks are needed to move materials to end market locations.
Smart Use of Garbage
At Hartland Landfill, we’re not just throwing things away, we’re putting them to work. In 2024, about 10,867 tonnes of garbage was repurposed for beneficial use. This involved shredding garbage (primarily renovation and demolition waste), and using it on-site for engineering purposes, reducing the need to use new materials. By shredding this material we saved landfill space, which was crucial as we prepared to open a new section of the landfill in 2025.
Rewarding Waste Collectors for Recycling
In 2024, the CRD launched the Waste Stream Collectors Incentive Program at Hartland Landfill. The program registered 20 commercial customers, responsible for bringing about 85% of garbage to Hartland. Waste collectors participating in the program received a $25/tonne rebate on their garbage tipping fees for collecting waste in separate streams (organics, recyclables and garbage) and sharing their data with us. It’s a win-win: they save money and the landfill receives less garbage.
We’ve made great progress, but there’s more work to do to extend the life span of Hartland Landfill and meet our waste reduction targets by 2031. For ideas on how to reduce waste visit www.crd.ca/rethinkwaste.
