Council also directed staff to investigate and employ options to reduce the amount of contaminated recycling so less of it ends up in landfills.<\/p>\n
According to a staff report, just four tonnes of material was recycled in 2023, when three-stream bins (landfill, containers, organics) were added to Millenium, John Lawson and Dundarave parks. That same year, 254 tonnes were sent from West Van parks to the landfill.<\/p>\n
In 2024, Phase 2 of the program added two-stream bins to Horseshoe Bay and Whytecliff parks. That year, around 4.8 tonnes were recycled and 262 tonnes of park waste went to the landfill.<\/p>\n
The low amount of waste being diverted from the landfill for recycling is due to high rates of contamination \u2013 visitors putting the wrong materials in the wrong bins,\u00a0staff said.<\/p>\n
Audits done between May 2022 and January 2025 show that nearly 40 per cent of container recycling in parks is contaminated with non-container waste, and that 18.5 per cent of organics were contaminated.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s far above the 10-per cent contamination limit used by many commercial recycling and organics processors, staff said.<\/p>\n
Sending all that potential recycling to the dump undermines the program\u2019s goal of waste reduction, despite efforts that include updating graphics near bins with clear visual guides, and\u00a0public education over the past two summers, said Jill Lawlor, West Van\u2019s senior manager of parks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis results in high expense per tonne diverted [to the landfill],\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s also a risk to the district\u2019s credibility and commitment to waste reduction.\u201d<\/p>\n
A ‘missed opportunity’ if recycling program isn’t expanded, councillor says<\/p>\n
Coun. Sharon Thompson said it seems silly to expand a program that isn\u2019t effective.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really would like to see some improvement in our waste collection before we start investing this \u2026 whether it\u2019s slogans or receptacles or volunteers helping along,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think Metro [Vancouver]\u00a0does a really good job on their sloganing, even the signage they put through the parts with dog leashes and things like that,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cSo if we look to our fellow neighbours and partners, hopefully we can find some solutions there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coun. Christine Cassidy said that if there aren\u2019t the proper receptacles, people won\u2019t be able to improve their recycling behaviour even if they wanted to.<\/p>\n
Gambioli stressed that there\u2019s funding for the new receptacles and vehicles available now, and that pay parking revenue could cover operating costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a missed opportunity if we don\u2019t do it now,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the expectations in the community are clear, and I think we should move ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, council voted to move forward with the Ambleside Park expansion, while having staff look for more ways to reduce contaminated recycling in district parks.<\/p>\n
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