The Regional District of Nanaimo is informing business owners and multi-family dwelling residents about how to take out the trash ahead of new regulations taking effect in the new year.
Similar to single-family residences, people in apartments and owners of industrial and commercial properties throughout RDN municipalities and electoral areas will have to dispose of food scraps, garbage and recyclable material in separate bins, beginning in January.
Sonam Bajwa, RDN solid waste planner, said residents and waste disposal companies will need to work together on compliance.
"If it's an apartment building, or if it's a business, it's figuring out what works best for them, talking to their hauler about what suggestions that they have," she said.
Bins for kitchens, offices and shopping plazas can be purchased from manufacturers, she said, and the RDN's mandatory waste source separation page has links to different bin providers, as well as information on bags and bin discounts for RDN residents.
In order to allow for a transition, there will be a six-month grace period, as the goal initially is education, not enforcement, Bajwa said.
"We are going to have a compliance person, but … we want people to participate in the program, we want to see that diversion," she said. "If we hear about a building that doesn't have their bins like they're supposed to, we're going to reach out to them … go in and have a conversation and help them understand the program, understand how to use the program and help guide them."
Bajwa said that regional districts don’t have authority to require source separation and the RDN had to work with the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs to secure an order-in-council.
For more information, visit www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/waste-separation.
