Metro Vancouver is about to commit $3 billion dollars to operate as many as six garbage incinerators in our region. That’s one within view of just about everybody’s backyard.

Communities across North America are questioning end-of-pipesolutions like landfills and incinerators and emphasizingcommunity-based waste prevention instead.

The new “Zero Waste” paradigm has become a popular planning approachbecause it gives local governments tools suited to different wastestreams to achieve continuous gains in waste reduction.

Two core strategies underlie the Zero Waste planning approach:Extended Producer Responsibility and organics diversion. A good wasteplan for Metro Vancouver would centre on these two initiatives toreduce waste and make municipal incinerators unnecessary.

EPR + organics diversion = Zero Waste