ICYMI: Squamish council cleans up waste bylaw, adding construction activities

Squamish council clarified language in the solid waste bylaw to clear up requirements for the construction and demolition sectors.

At the regular business meeting on Feb. 6, council unanimously approved updating language in the solid waste bylaw to clearly state that construction, deconstruction, demolition or similar activities need a three-stream waste separation system.

“We’re asking and have asked active construction sites for some time to also separate their waste in recyclables, organics and landfill waste,” said Laura Wittenzellner, an outreach sustainability co-ordinator with the District of Squamish. 

“The intent of this clarification is to make it easier for the industry to understand that these regulations apply to them as well.”

Wittenzellner said they are also currently reviewing the demolition waste diversion bylaw with the goal of proposing amendments to it within the year.

“I look forward to hearing more about progress … on our demolition waste bylaw coming this year. I think that's where we can make a more significant impact on wood waste and deconstruction waste coming from our construction sites,” said Coun. Andrew Hamilton.

In addition to this clarifying language, amendments were added so that requests for changes in the size of collection containers should happen before Oct. 31 to ensure the changes can be in place by Jan. 1. The bylaw was also revised so that penalty dates were in line with other penalty dates along with other general housekeeping amendments.

The most recent audit of Squamish’s waste found that about 50.3% of the waste could theoretically be diverted from the landfill in the construction and demolition sectors. 

But, Squamish’s theoretical diversion rates are high across all streams, according to the Tetra Tech audit. 

Comparatively, 76% of waste could theoretically be diverted from the multi-family sector, 66.3% in the residential (single-family homes) sector, and 44.3% in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector.

As previously said by District staff, the Squamish Landfill is on track to be full in 2030. 

Mayor Armand Hurford said there was still “lots more work to happen” on solid waste.