Our Achievements

50% Target Met - In 1998 the Regional District of Central Kootenay successfully reduced the volume of residual waste heading to landfill by 50% compared with 1990's figures.  Only a small handful of regional districts managed to meet that target.  We were one of them.

Reuse Centres - The majority of our waste handling facilities have "Reuse" centres on site.  These centres offer a location where residents may place household items that still have use (e.g. small appliances, home decorations, certain kids toys, books, etc.). Note that child and infant/child car seats  are not accepted at Reuse centres. Furniture is not accepted due to limited space.

Localized Glass Recovery - Glass bottles collected at our recycling facilities are crushed and used as road building material.  This represents an excellent way to reuse an otherwise difficult to manage material.

Resource Recovery Plan  (RRP)- Our Resource Recovery Plan is currently being updated.  We have selected "Zero Waste" as an end goal for the RRP.  As part of the Plan will be focussing on source reduction as a way of decreasing the amount of residual waste being landfilled.  This will require a total shift of mindset in all of our residents and in all of our communities.

Community Partnerships - The RDCK values our many community partners who assist with our ongoing efforts to eliminate the concept of  "waste".  Some of our partner organizations include Salmo Community Services, the Nelson Food Coalition, Earth Matters, the Kaslo Jazz Fest, and the Nelson Eco Society.

Final Cover Composting Project - All garden/yard waste and discarded wood product is mulched and composted on site at a number of our waste handling facilities.  This material is then used as final cover at our landfills, thus eliminating the need to import material from elsewhere. 

Local Media - Waste reduction adverts have been regularly appearing in local newspapers as well as broadcasting on local air waves in an effort to spread the word about Zero Waste and waste reduction initiatives.