Guide to the Preparation of Regional Solid Waste Management Plans by Regional Districts
Preface
The Waste Management Act (now Environmental Management Act) was amended in 1989 to require that all regional districts submit a solid waste management plan on or before December 31, 1995. On September 13, 1989, Cabinet endorsed a municipal solid waste (MSW) management strategy which called for reducing the amount of municipal solid waste requiring disposal by 50 percent by the year 2000. The essential part of the strategy is the sequential hierarchy of the 3 R's — reduce, reuse, recycle, plus recovery and residual management. Implementation of this strategy is the mandate of the Municipal Waste Reduction Branch, Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now called Ministry of Environment) and Ministry Responsible for Human Rights and Multiculturalism.
The 1992 amendments to the Waste Management Act (now Environmental Management Act)
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reconfirmed that regional districts must submit solid waste management plans by 1995;
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clarified the roles of local governments in MSW management planning;
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expanded the definition of MSW to include demolition, land clearing and construction (DLC) waste;
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expanded the scope of msw management planning to include recyclable materials as well as MSW, and
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provided new enabling authority for regional districts to implement msw management plans approved by the Minister.
The MSW Task Force was established in August 1992 to explore the implications of the amendments for all stakeholders and to determine any further action required by the ministry or others to facilitate the development and implementation of regional MSW management plans. One of the main topics of discussion at the Task Force meetings was whether or not regional districts had sufficient plan implementation authority, particularly in terms of controlling the flow of recyclable material and municipal solid waste, under either the Waste Management Act or the Municipal Act.
As a result of the discussions, and despite recent amendments to the Municipal Act, the ministry realized that regional districts require additional authority to implement approved plans. This authority will be achieved through legislation as soon as the ministry is authorized to proceed. Regional districts that wish to exercise full authority in the meantime should contact staff at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
The provincial solid waste management strategy includes the following main elements:
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Partnership with People — Environmental Education and Consultation
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Partnership with Business — Economic Development and Stewardship
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Partnership with Local Government — Planning and Market Development
As part of the third element, funding assistance is available for the preparation of the regional solid waste management plans (RSWMPs) required by Section 24 of the Environmental Management Act. An underlying purpose of this guide is to assist regional districts and municipalities in deriving maximum benefit from the planning assistance contribution program.
The Ministry of Environment wants to work with local governments to restructure the way municipal solid waste is generated and managed, in order to create a sustainable, integrated waste management system. The ministry is therefore prepared to assist local governments in preparing, adopting and implementing RSWMPs.
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