Did you know that with the current garbage disposal rate, British Columbia is expected to run out of landfill space in about 23 years? While the CVRD is working with other jurisdictions to address the shrinking landfill capacity issue, we must also focus on minimizing the needless landfilling of reusable materials. Composting is a key strategy in the CVRD's Solid Waste Management Plan to reduce waste in our region.
The Cowichan Valley’s landfill was deemed full in the late 1990s and thus was closed. Before the closure, the CVRD tried to find an appropriate alternative, including siting a new landfill in our region, which was ultimately unsuccessful. With no local landfill, all garbage is exported over 700 km to Washington State—an increasingly expensive, dangerous and environmentally taxing solution, especially with the fires and floods associated with climate change. Yet, 33% of our garbage contains organic material that could be composted instead. The curbside organics service helps tackle this by accepting items unsuitable for most backyard composters, such as meat, dairy, grains, bones, and cooked food. By composting, we keep valuable materials in circulation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move toward a more sustainable future for the Cowichan Valley.