2011 COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Category Worksheet
LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
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Name of Local Government: City of Port Coquitlam
Project/Program Title: Waste-Reduction Strategy
Community Size: Large
Project Summary Paragraph
Please provide a summary of your project/program in 150 words or less.
The City of Port Coquitlam began introducing a series of progressive waste-reduction initiatives
through its Waste-Reduction Strategy in 2008. The strategy builds on the success of the City’s
automated three-bin waste collection system, the first in Western Canada, with initiatives that
encourage residents to divert recyclable and compostable material away from the landfill. Port
Coquitlam was the first city in Metro Vancouver to take the following bold steps to reduce waste:
curbside collection of fruit/vegetable scraps and other compostables in 2008, collection of all
food scraps/food-soiled papers in 2009, alternate-week garbage collection in 2010, and offering
food scraps collection to all multi-family homes and schools in 2011. Other BC communities
have requested Port Coquitlam’s assistance to introduce similar programs. Citizens have
embraced the program and become the City’s waste-reduction partners, resulting in significant
increases in waste diversion along with decreases in disposal fees, greenhouse gas emissions
and fuel consumption.
Project Analysis
Please answer the question in 300 words or less in 11 pt Arial font (our judges value directness
and brevity). If you experience difficulty answering a particular question, consider the aspects of
your program that may relate to the question and show us how they are linked.
1. ENVIRONMENT
How does the program/project protect BC’s environment?
The primary intent of the Waste-Reduction Strategy is to divert recyclable and compostable
material from the landfill. Waste management is a significant environmental problem in BC
and across North America.
Through curbside collection of recyclables, food scraps and food-soiled papers, combined
with alternate-week garbage collection, the strategy encourages citizens to divert as much
as possible into their green and recycling carts. As a result of the strategy, the City sent 26%
fewer tonnes to the landfill in 2010 than in 2009. As of July 2011, Port Coquitlam residents
are diverting 62% of household waste away from the landfill (up from 50% in 2009).
The strategy has also reduced the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel
consumption. The change to alternate-week garbage collection has reduced vehicle trips by
a net 12.5%, with corresponding reductions in GHG emissions and fuel consumption. In
2010, the City saved 9,600 litres of diesel fuel, which would have produced 98 tonnes of
GHGs.
Increased waste diversion also helps to reduce the harmful effects of landfills on the
environment.
2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards
Landfills produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and harm air quality.
Organic material in landfills decomposes gradually over decades and creates a significant
amount of methane due to the absence of oxygen. In contrast, when organic waste is
composted, it decomposes within one year and predominantly creates carbon dioxide
because oxygen is made available. Because methane is 21 times more potent than carbon
dioxide on a 100-year global warming potential basis, composting organic material can
reduce GHG emissions by over 90% compared to sending it to a landfill.
Every tonne of household organics diverted from the landfill is estimated to reduce GHGs by
approximately a tonne. In 2010, Port Coquitlam diverted 1,182 more tonnes of organic
material from the landfill than in 2009.
Landfills also leach toxic substances and can affect groundwater.
2. PROCESS
Please provide a brief outline of the steps involved in the program/project and the status of
each step.
2008
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2009
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2010
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Following extensive research and a pilot project, Port Coquitlam became the first
Metro Vancouver city to start curbside collection of fruit/vegetable scraps and other
compostables. The City also began year-round pickup of green carts (formerly no
wintertime pickup).
A comprehensive public awareness campaign included a website
(www.portcoquitlam.ca/greencart), press releases, brochure, mailout, advertising,
signage, cart decals, posters, and displays.
Port Coquitlam was the first municipality to approach Fraser Richmond Soil & Fibre to
investigate the potential for curbside pickup of all food scraps and food-soiled papers.
A pilot project tested out curbside collection of all food scraps/soiled papers combined
with alternate-week garbage pickup. Participants diverted 65% of their household waste
into their recycling and green carts.
Port Coquitlam became the first municipality in BC to offer curbside collection of all
food scraps and food-soiled papers.
The City announced plans to move to alternate-week garbage collection in January
2010, along with weekly green cart pickup from mid-May to mid-November.
Educational materials were updated and distributed, including a dedicated website
(www.portcoquitlam.ca/garbage), brochures and resources, social media posts,
press releases, advertising, bookmarks, displays, banners and information in City
publications.
The City began distributing free Kitchen Composter Starter Kits, including a lidded
pail and information resources.
Port Coquitlam became the first Metro Vancouver city to begin alternate-week
garbage collection.
Pilot food scraps and recycling collection was initiated with School District 43.
Public education continued with ongoing promotion of resources and community
events.
A pilot was conducted for multi-family green cart collection.
2011
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Port Coquitlam begins food scraps and recycling collection at schools, public places
and all City facilities.
Port Coquitlam becomes the first city in BC to offer green cart collection to all multifamily homes.
3. RELEVANCE
Tell us how your submission is relevant to current environmental issues.
Waste Management
As mentioned in Question 1, waste management is a significant issue in BC and across
North America. Lack of space for landfills, and the emissions and pollution caused by
landfills, are a widespread concern. These are real issues in BC, as Metro Vancouver’s main
landfill in Cache Creek had been scheduled to close in 2012. Although a five-year extension
was approved, no sustainable long-term solution has emerged.
This problem is so significant that Metro Vancouver launched its Zero Waste initiative, with a
goal of diverting 70% of waste from the landfill by 2015.
Port Coquitlam used to have a similar landfill diversion rate as the rest of Metro Vancouver
(about 50-55%). Since introducing the Waste-Reduction Strategy, the City’s diversion rate
has climbed 12% and other Metro Vancouver cities are following its lead with similar food
scraps collection and alternate-week garbage collection.
Port Coquitlam set the example of what could be achieved and was the first to take
significant steps towards meeting the region’s waste-reduction commitments. The City
expects to be among the first to reach and exceed the 70% diversion target.
Greenhouse Gases/Fossil Fuels
Climate change is a worldwide concern. Governments, businesses and communities around
the globe are striving to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consumption of fossil
fuels.
The strategy has reduced the City’s GHG emissions and fuel consumption by taking trucks
off the road, and by reducing how much is sent to landfills, a significant source of GHGs. In
2010, the new collection schedule saved 9,600 litres of diesel fuel, which would have
produced about 98 metric tonnes of GHGs.
Every tonne of household organics diverted from the landfill is estimated to reduce GHGs by
approximately a tonne. In 2010, Port Coquitlam diverted 1,182 more tonnes of organic
material from the landfill than in 2009.
4. LEADERSHIP
How does the project reflect leadership and excellence in the advancement of community
development?
Port Coquitlam’s innovative approach to waste reduction has enhanced the community’s
profile, engaged citizens and increased civic pride.
A key element of Port Coquitlam’s Waste-Reduction Strategy has been an ongoing public
awareness and education campaign that aims to teach the community about the importance
of waste reduction and the impact of their actions – and ultimately, to transform citizens into
waste-reduction partners. This comprehensive campaign has been delivered in a variety of
formats to reach as many members of the community as possible, including extensive
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2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards
website and printed resources, advertising (including newspapers, transit shelters, grocery
store adbars and rink banners), social media and community events.
The significant diversion improvements (see #1 and #5) illustrate that our residents have
embraced our waste-reduction initiatives, demonstrating the City’s success in engaging the
community. Further evidence of community ownership comes from the successful new
school and multi-family complex programs, in which enrolment is optional. In particular,
students and teachers had lobbied the City to expand the service to schools after learning
about the residential program.
Port Coquitlam’s leadership in the area of waste reduction has also brought positive
attention to the community. A number of other BC municipalities have followed Port
Coquitlam’s lead and implemented similar initiatives, including collection of food
scraps/food-soiled papers and alternate-week garbage collection. City representatives are
regularly asked for advice about or to make presentations on the topic, such as Mayor Greg
Moore’s Organics Strategy presentation at the FCM Sustainable Communities Conference
in 2009 and the Australia Zero Waste Conference in August 2011. Port Coquitlam’s wastereduction initiatives have also been referenced in local, regional and international
publications.
In a larger sense, all communities have a responsibility to protect our planet through waste
management and other environmental initiatives. By leading by example, Port Coquitlam is
fulfilling its role in this area.
5. ECONOMICS
a. How was the project a good use of budget and resources?
The Waste-Reduction Strategy is meeting or exceeding expectations in many areas:
Diversion: As of July 2011, residents are placing only 38% of their household waste into
their garbage cart – 12% less than in previous years. They also sent 1,863 fewer tonnes
to the landfill (26% less) in 2010. As the program continues and awareness grows, we
expect even higher diversion rates.
Education: The initiatives have successfully educated the community about the need to
be aware of what they’re throwing away. One indication of this is the increase in
recycling when no changes have been made to that program.
Sustainability: The waste-reduction initiatives contribute to the City’s goal of
environmental sustainability.
Cost savings: In 2010, the program achieved a total net savings of $164,500 – made
up of $81,500 in disposal fees and $83,000 in labour, equipment and fuel costs. Original
estimates had anticipated a $225,000 savings over five years.
Taxpayers are also benefiting from the strategy. Port Coquitlam’s garbage levy, the
lowest in Metro Vancouver, has not increased for three years despite rising landfill
disposal fees. Residents also receive a financial incentive of $30 per year for downsizing
to a smaller garbage cart.
b. How does the project encourage economic sustainability? (e.g. life cycle analysis,
internalizing costs and alternative financing, economic instruments)
The significant savings achieved has freed up funds to be directed to other wastereduction initiatives and City priorities. The reduced operational requirements related to
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2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards
alternate-week garbage collection have also added to the lifespan of equipment and
saved 9,600 litres of diesel fuel in the first year.
In addition, due to the savings achieved, Port Coquitlam is the only city in Metro
Vancouver that has maintained its 2009 garbage levy levels in both 2010 and 2011 –
despite annual increases in landfill disposal fees (18% in 2011 alone).
6. SUSTAINABILITY
How does the project encourage social sustainability? (e.g. stakeholder engagement, public
participation, equity and diversity, health and safety, knowledge sharing, capacity building,
community identity and marketing)
The City has encouraged public feedback throughout our introduction of the waste-reduction
initiatives; in response to input, a decision was made to introduce weekly pickup of green
carts in 2010 from mid-May to mid-November (green cart collection normally takes place on
alternate weeks).
From the start, the City recognized that the support and participation of the community was
vital to the program’s success. The focus of the extensive public education and awareness
campaign was to transform our citizens into waste-reduction partners. Our outreach included
comprehensive web and printed resources, newspaper and transit shelter ads, posters,
billboards, social media prompts, truck signage and the City calendar.
As a result, citizens have embraced the initiatives and regularly provide positive feedback
about the program. In particular, the uptake of the optional school and multi-family programs
is significant because they require participants to sign up and pay additional fees. A resident
in a 25-unit co-op noted, “We’re introducing it to our members and expect to see our use of
our green carts go up and our garbage to go down.”
A grassroots outreach element was introduced to the strategy in 2011. For example, all
participating multi-family complexes have an in-house green cart champion who serves as
the liaison with the City and provides information and support to residents. At civic events
such as Canada Day, a volunteer is assigned to recycling stations that include a food scraps
bin to reinforce the City’s waste diversion messaging. Local schools that have signed up
also have in-house advocates who promote the program.
Our leading-edge waste efforts have also brought the community positive media attention,
both from local newspapers and from regional TV and newspapers, as well as recognition as
a waste-reduction leader from other cities and organizations who contact the City for advice
or to make presentations.
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7. INNOVATION
What makes your program/project innovative?
Port Coquitlam’s Waste-Reduction Strategy addresses a significant and widespread
environmental challenge with a series of linked initiatives intended to reach the goal of
greater waste diversion. Our systematic approach was intended to transition our community
towards greater diversion in manageable steps, given that these measures were new to
Metro Vancouver and to our citizens.
Our strategy includes a lot of “firsts” – Port Coquitlam was the first city in Metro Vancouver
to collect kitchen green waste, to collect all food scraps, to move to alternate-week garbage
pickup and to offer green cart pickup to all multi-family homes. Even after introducing green
kitchen waste collection in 2008, the City wanted to increase its diversion further. We
approached Fraser Richmond Soil & Fibre in 2009 about expanding the kitchen waste
program to include all food scraps and food-soiled papers, and found a willing partner.
The initiative taken by Port Coquitlam has kick-started greater waste diversion throughout
the region; other Metro Vancouver cities are now following our example and initiating similar
programs.
Our approach was also unique. From the start, our focus was to engage the community and
create waste-diversion partners. Rather than foisting the initiatives on the community, we
provided tools, education, support and consistent messaging to create willing participants.
8. TRANSFERABILITY
How is this program/project transferable to other local governments?
Communities across BC need to find ways to manage their waste more sustainably, and
Port Coquitlam’s Waste-Reduction Strategy provides a model for how this can be done.
The example set by Port Coquitlam is already being replicated in other areas of Metro
Vancouver. Cities including Vancouver, Port Moody, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey
and Coquitlam have since piloted or introduced collection of vegetable/fruit scraps or all food
scraps/food-soiled papers, while Port Moody has moved to alternate-week garbage
collection and Vancouver will be piloting alternate-week garbage collection in September.
Further, automated waste collection systems are common in BC, with participating cities
using our Memorandum of Understanding with CUPE as a model.
Port Coquitlam readily shares information about the initiative with other jurisdictions. In
addition to making presentations and offering advice by phone, the City has hosted
representatives of about a dozen communities interested in seeing our operations in person.
The tools to replicate Port Coquitlam’s initiative are readily available in communities across
BC. Most communities already offer curbside collection of yard waste, and could – like Port
Coquitlam – develop relationships with commercial composting companies to expand their
collection to include food scraps. (Port Coquitlam’s efforts regarding expanded food scraps
collection have already paved the way for other cities in Metro Vancouver.)
Likewise, many Canadian communities offer civic garbage collection services and have the
ability to implement an alternate-week garbage schedule.
9. KNOWLEDGE SHARING
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What helpful advice would you share with other communities looking to embark on a similar
project?
Communication is key: Communities that adopt more aggressive waste-diversion
programs need to be prepared to address the inevitable negative public feedback that
comes with change.
To many residents, these changes may be perceived as a reduction in services. It is critical
that communities develop comprehensive communication strategies to address the
anticipated criticism, explain the need for the change and develop the buy-in necessary for
the programs to succeed.
For example, prepare some communications materials before the initial staff report goes to
Council – e.g. a media release or ad explaining the proposed change, reasons/benefits, and
planned resources/tools to help with the transition. In Port Coquitlam, the media reported on
the staff report prior to the Council decision to implement alternate-week garbage collection,
so the public’s introduction to the change focused on logistics, without the benefit of
messaging or education.
Further, while ultimately the program received excellent local media coverage and some
regional coverage, the ad-hoc adoption throughout Metro Vancouver has resulted in a
confusing array of messaging (e.g. the same materials are called organic/kitchen waste,
food scraps, and kitchen scraps in different communities.)
Ideally, communities in a region should develop a common lexicon and messaging for future
programs that are expected to be widely adopted. Therefore, as each community comes on
stream, it would be reinforcing consistent, widely-understood messaging.
Anticipate future demand: Ensure cart sizes offered at the beginning of the program will
meet the future demands of each stream and the overall anticipated diversion. For example,
offer smaller garbage and larger green carts when introducing food scraps collection. In Port
Coquitlam, the smaller 120L garbage carts were introduced months after full kitchen scraps
collection began, resulting in some households later trading in their larger carts for the
smaller size.
10. TELL US MORE
Please share any other information you think may help us better understand your
submission.
Building on the success of its three-bin automated system, Port Coquitlam launched a
Waste-Reduction Strategy in 2008 with three main components:
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food scraps collection
reduced garbage collection frequency
education/community partnership
At the time, other communities in North America and around the world were already
achieving higher diversion rates than Port Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver. The City
recognized it was not only possible to improve diversion, but with the then-anticipated
closure of Metro Vancouver landfill in 2012, it was essential to do so. Further, Port
Coquitlam felt it had an obligation to address the escalating waste disposal costs facing its
taxpayers.
The City conducted extensive research to investigate options for increased diversion, to
determine the right approach for Port Coquitlam, and to create a business case. We
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2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards
researched best practices and studies, and talked to other communities with established
programs. We also conducted our own studies to test out each of the components – first the
collection of green kitchen scraps, and then alternate-week garbage pickup combined with
the collection of all food scraps and food-soiled papers. The encouraging results spurred
the City to move forward with the Waste-Reduction Strategy, which has since expanded to
include schools and multi-family homes.
Environmental excellence may include, but is not limited to the following types of
projects:
 climate change initiatives
 ecological footprint reduction
 brownfield remediation
 comprehensive community plans &
official community plans
 environmental assessment

community education and
 alternative energy
empowerment
 green buildings and design
 sustainability planning
 ecosystem management & restoration
 land use planning
 green incentive programs and
initiatives
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