Recycling and Waste Reduction

 

Recycling and Waste Reduction
Composting Programs
Backyard Composting
Worm Composting
Zero Waste Challenge

Recycling and Waste Reduction

In 2007, New Westminster residents generated approximately 21,000 tonnes of solid waste of which 6600 tonnes was recycled -- 32% recycling rate. There are large economic and environmental costs associated with handling this amount of material so having a goal to reduce the amount of garbage (solid waste) we produce and transport is an important step.

The City of New Westminster provides regular pick-up of recyclables for single family dwellings and contracts a waste service provider for multi-family recycling. Many materials can also be recycled at the New Westminster Recycling Depot or at other privately operated product-specific material depots in the City. The City also encourages home composting by providing backyard and worm composter subsidy programs for residents.

Did you know?
The Recycling Council of BC has an information line for residents to call to find out where they can bring their recyclable or reusable items. Call: 604-732-9253 (M-F) 9am - 8pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm

Did you know?
If you have a fridge that measures between 10-24 cubic feet and is still in working condition, BC Hydro will pick it up, recycle it, and give you $30 for it. For more information, contact the Fridge Buy Back Program at 1-866-516-4357 or visit the BC Hydro website.

 

Back to Top

Composting Programs

Compost is a natural biological process that involves billions of micro-organisms that convert/ transform organic waste (e.g. grass clippings, garden refuse, kitchen scraps, fallen leaves) into nutrient-rich material. In our region, organic waste accounts over 40% of the waste currently being sent to landfills. Home composting is an easy way that residents can reduce this amount of waste transported to the dump and at the same time help improve regional air quality and produce excellent soil conditioner. The City is offering two types of subsidized home composters: backyard composters and worm composters (for those residents that don’t have a backyard). 

 

City Recycling Hotline: 604-527-4611
B.C. Recycling Hotline: 604-732-9253
B.C. Compost Hotline: 604-736-2250

The City New Westminster's Water conservation and composting brochure (pdf)

Back to Top

Backyard Composting

Backyard composters provide an excellent way to reduce your household garbage by about 30% and make a nutrient-rich material (soil) to add to your garden. The City’s backyard composter program offers New Westminster residents an 80 gallon plastic composter (“The Earth Machine”) for $30.00 including taxes. For more information on the composter program, please contact Engineering Operations at 604-526-4691 during office hours (7:30AM - 4:00PM, Mon-Fri).  Payment can be made by cash or cheque only, at time of pick-up.

Download the Metro Vancouver Backyard Composting Pamphlet (pdf)For information about composting, please visit Metro Vancouver's website.

Back to Top

 

Worm Composting

The City is excited to offer a worm composter program to the numerous New Westminster residents who don’t have a backyard. The program includes an instructional workshop (required before purchase) along with the sale of a kit. Kits include a bin (~14.4 US gallons), tray, lid, worms, garden fork, bedding and guidebook –all for the subsidized price of $35.00 including taxes. Payment can be  made at the workshop by cash or cheque only. For more information about the City’s worm composter program, please call Engineering Operations at 604-526-4691 during office hours (7:30AM - 4:00PM, Mon-Fri).

Download Metro Vancouver's Worm Composting Pamphlet (pdf)

For general information on worm composting, please visit Metro Vancouver's website.
 

Did you know?
The City's Parks, Culture and Recreation department collects their yard and garden debris from landscaping activities which are then composted and re-used for City operations. The City has been operating it’s own corporate composting facility since 2001!

Back to Top

Zero Waste Challenge

The regional Zero Waste Challenge is a Metro Vancouver initiative that has two key goals:

1. Minimize waste generation; and
2. Maximize reuse, recycling and material/energy recovery.

Better recycling has the potential to reduce waste going to the landfills by 150,000 tonnes per year in our region. In 2006, over 1134 tonnes of New Westminster’s recyclable material ended up in the landfill. 
New Westminster is joining other municipalities in the campaign to increase recycling rates in our region. As of January 1, 2008 a number of recyclable and hazardous waste materials are not allowed (banned) from the garbage. They include:

• Corrugated cardboard
• News print
• Office paper
• Beverage containers (all except milk)
• Blue box recyclables
• Gypsum drywall
• Yard and garden waste
• Printers and TV’s
• Lead-acid (car batteries)
• Medications/pharmaceuticals
• Paint, solvents, flammable liquids, gasoline and pesticides
• Vehicle tires
• Oil, oil filters and empty containers
• Electronic waste, such as computers & other computer components

Did you know?
For disposal locations of banned materials, please review the City recycling flyer, or visit the Metro Vancouver website.
 

 

Back to Top