The District of Kitimat is achieving its environmental goals as it moves ahead on modernizing and improving waste management services.
In 2020, the District adopted its Solid Waste Strategy and Action Plan which set the vision for the improvements seen today, including the expansion of curbside collection to include garbage, yard waste, food waste and recycling.
Kitimat residents have stepped up, helping to divert more than 47 per cent of waste from our landfill and providing well-sorted curbside recycling through the program.
Enhancements to our waste management in 2023 includes the construction of a scalehouse at the Kitimat Landfill which will be completed this summer. To meet new provincial requirements, this scalehouse will weigh incoming and outgoing vehicles so we have a strong sense of what is being brought to the landfill.
The information provided by the scales will improve our operational services and provide the data to support an eventual user-pay system for landfill self-drop off.
Starting July 2, a new landfill attendant will be placed on the site’s active face to support proper sorting of materials and provide a safer work site.
Landfill hours will also change starting July 2. The new hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays to Mondays, closed to the public on Tuesdays.
Beginning August 1, the landfill will close Mondays rather than Tuesdays.
Information about the Kitimat Landfill, its hours and upcoming changes is available on our WayLessWaste page at kitimat.ca/WayLessWaste, or visit our landfill page directly here.
For information about our Solid Waste Strategy and Action Plan, including new details about our proposed cost recovery policy, visit Kitimat.ca/Swap.
Background
Improvements to Kitimat’s waste collection has included the following benefits and successes:
- In 2021, we diverted more than 47 per cent of waste from our landfill
- Thanks to the efforts of our residents, Recycle BC has reported a lower than three per cent contamination rate for our curbside recycling
- In 2024, a new compost facility is scheduled to be complete at the Kitimat Landfill which will support the creation of high quality compost and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
The four guiding principles of our Solid Waste Management and Action Plan are:
- Maximize waste diversion (zero waste) to conserve landfill capacity.
- Manage residual waste to meet current design and operating standards.
- Evaluate harmonizing the District’s solid waste management system with the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
- Fair and equitable cost recovery policy (details at Kitimat.ca/Swap).
Contact Us