Food scraps program in Metro Vancouver: A third of condos not complying
It's been nine months since the ban came into effect and only two-thirds have an organic compost system
Metro Vancouver says 35 per cent of apartment buildings in the region still don't have a food scraps compost system in place, even though the new rules requiring apartments and businesses to keep food waste out of the garbage went into effect on Jan.1.
Metro Vancouver officials remain optimistic about the program, however.
"The other way to look at it is that we've come a long way since the ban," said Andrew Marr with Metro Vancouver's solid waste services department.
Officials note 30 fines, a number Metro Vancouver calls "small", have been levied since a grace period ended on July 1. The fines are levied against waste hauling companies rather those who produce the waste.
As for why more fines haven't been levied, Metro Vancouver says it's more focused on making sure restaurants and food retailers are following the rules rather than condominiums.
"With multi-residents you tend to get a smaller proportion of food waste, so focus of enforcement has not been on that," explained Marr.
According to a survey done by Metro Vancouver, the buildings that do not have a plan in place right now are planning to do so at the end of this year or by the end of 2016.
To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled One-third of Metro Vancouver apartments still not collecting food scraps with the CBC's Rick Cluff on The Early Edition.