While often described as a consumer society, it would be equally true to describe us as a waster society; they are two sides of the same coin.
A lot of what we acquire 鈥� all that 鈥渟tuff鈥欌�� 鈥� ends up as solid waste, while inefficient energy use leads to high levels of energy waste. Not only does this contribute to 颅excessive use of resources 颅鈥� with all the 颅pollution and energy use associated with their extraction, processing and distribution 鈥� but it fills our landfills and pollutes our local environment or, if we export it, other people鈥檚 environment.
So unsurprisingly, consumables 鈥� at nine per cent 鈥� are an important part of the region鈥檚 overall ecological footprint.
The 2018 sa国际传媒 Institute of Technology report on Saanich鈥檚 footprint found that almost all of the footprint of consumables was due to 鈥渦pstream impacts鈥� 鈥� all the materials and energy that go into producing and distributing the products.
Thus, the report concludes, we need to 鈥減rioritize reduction in overall consumption, instead of focusing on end-of-stream waste management.鈥�
The report found that almost half the ecological impact of consumables is due to wood, textiles and rubber, almost a third is paper and plastics comprise 11 per cent.
So it suggests Saanich residents, businesses and organizations should reduce paper consumption by half, textile consumption by 40 per cent and plastics consumption 30 per cent. Given the large amount of food waste, the report also suggests reducing food purchasing by a quarter.
We produce a lot of solid waste in this region: 382 kg per person in 2019, according to a Capital Regional District staff report in September this year; for a family of four, this is more than 1,500 kg or 1.5 tonnes per year, although it is not all produced directly.
We are a long way from the CRD鈥檚 target of 250 kg per person per year by 2030 (and an aspirational target of 125 kg, still being discussed), and a vast distance from zero waste.
But zero waste is where we need to be, and is one of Bioregional鈥檚 10 principles of One Planet living. In a 鈥淪ustainability Scan鈥� for the One Planet Saanich Initiative, the goals for this principle are 鈥渢o reduce 颅wasteful consumption, maximise upcycling, re-use and recycling, and aim for zero waste to landfill.鈥�
The National Zero Waste Council brings together 鈥済overnments, businesses and non-government organizations to advance waste prevention in sa国际传媒 and the 颅transition to a circular economy.鈥�
The latter 鈥渋s based on the idea that there is no such thing as waste鈥�. Among its features: 鈥減roducts are designed to last and optimized for a cycle of disassembly and reuse that makes it easier to handle and transform or renew them.鈥�
Unfortunately the CRD is not a member; the only municipal member from this region is the City of Victoria. The city initiated its Zero Waste Victoria strategy in March 2019 and is due to consider its adoption next month. The strategy focuses on eliminating the unnecessary through reducing our 颅consumption and making reuse, recycling and repair the norm: 鈥淭he least 颅desirable 颅outcome is disposal of an item in the 颅landfill.鈥�
Which brings me to the proposal 颅currently being considered by the CRD to expand the Hartland Landfill and extend its life from 2045 (25 years from now, when it is expected to be full) to 2100, 80 years from now, an additional 55 years of landfilling of waste. Of particular concern is the comment in the September CRD staff report about the need to 鈥渆nsure the long-term financial 颅sustainability of the waste system by stopping waste and associated tipping fees from leaving the region.鈥�
So we need to keep landfilling in order to keep the revenues here. This is the same predicament as an 鈥渆nergy from waste鈥� plant; you need to ensure you have a steady supply of waste, which removes the 颅incentive to reduce it.
If we are to get to zero waste, expanding the landfill is entirely the wrong approach, in effect accepting 鈥� even supporting 鈥� us in continuing to over-consume and use resources wastefully. Instead, the CRD should take a leaf from Victoria鈥檚 book: Set a target of zero waste, refuse to expand the landfill and set about creating a circular economy.
Dr. Trevor Hancock is a retired professor and senior scholar at the University of Victoria鈥檚 School of Public Health and Social Policy.
