Valley sets recycling standard

Waste management may not be the most exciting topic of conversation, but officials with the local commission are happy to share their stories.

And the story of the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission is one they can be proud of, as it has the highest rate of recycling in the province.

With an intensive recycling program at the Francis Cooke Regional Landfill and Towards Zero Waste making valley events more sustainable, the local commission is keeping garbage out of the ground.

Commission chair Dene Cooper said in Alberta anything over 50 per cent recycling is considered substantial and the Francis Cooke in 2010 reached a milestone.

“To be at 72 per cent is setting the benchmark – that’s now where the bar is set,” he said. “That is considered to be a remarkable accomplishment.”

Cooper said the landfill has been diverting more and more since it began and to have a diversion rate of 72 per cent is the result of years of good planning.

The landfill itself occupies 80 acres, with 40 of those active and the remainder in reserve.

BVWMC chief administrative officer Darcy Edison said there is a 60-year estimated lifespan at the facility.

“We have to remember there will not be another landfill in the valley,” he said.

In terms of recycling, the landfill handles asphalt, concrete, dimensional wood waste, green organics or yard and garden composting. Offsite recycling includes scrap metal and gypsum/drywall.

“Since 2008 there have been continuous improvements to diversion,” Edison said. “We are a leader in the province.”

Rates at the landfill are more expensive if material enters unsorted. That means recycling is cheaper for local companies to ensure and has resulted in increased rates.

Edison and the commission have consulted on two major demolition projects – Lawrence Grassi Middle School and decommissioning of the Seebe townsite.

Both projects resulted in significant amounts of material being diverted from the landfill.

Towards Zero Waste coordinator Peter Duck said in 2010 that program has seen 80 per cent recycling from 31 events.

That means 6,212 kilograms of material was kept out of landfills and recycled at Bow Valley events.

Canmore mandates that events are required to use the program at a majority of those 31 events.

“We try to promote providing a responsible waste program,” Duck said. “Towards Zero Waste has gathered momentum for special events over the last several years.”

The program provides event staff with assistance in organizing a plan to divert material and may also help deliver on the ground.

With 80 per cent diversion at events in 2010 it has seen significant buy-in from valley residents.

“The program has continued to grow in 2011 and we have done 30 events to date,” he said.

Cooper said exposure of the program at valley events has seen many return to homes in Alberta, Canada and worldwide sharing what they saw.

The result, he added, is a tremendous amount of interest in the program from jurisdictions both near and far.

“This is another case of good planning having been met with remarkable success,” he said.

Established in 1998, the regional commission deals with waste from Banff, Canmore, the MD of Bighorn and Banff National Park, including Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country.

One project that has been on the books for several years for the commission is establishing an east regional transfer station.

Canmore is in need of a transfer station as its current facility sits adjacent to residential housing.

The commission has $1.8 million in grant funding from Alberta Environment to spend on the project.

“We need to find a location for that in order to move forward,” Edison said, adding the money must be used for a regional benefit.