The chairman of Nanaimo’s non-profit depot is making a statement with styrofoam as politicians mull the future of recycling services.
Rob Campbell, recycling exchange chairman, says he has left blocks of Styrofoam on the steps of Nanaimo City Hall a number of times since last week with messages like “please keep me out of the landfill” and “support the NRE.” He’s concerned the city will wash its hands of the depot and there will be enough Styrofoam to “cover Protection Island three feet deep every year.”
There are other depots in Nanaimo that will take Styrofoam from residents, but not commercial Styrofoam, according to the city.
“It’s no joke that we’re going to have to close our doors if we can’t work out a deal with somebody,” said Campbell, who loves the NRE and wants to see it continue.
The city’s role with the non-profit recycling exchange is up for debate Monday, with staff members recommending council refer the provision of a one-stop recycling depot to the Regional District of Nanaimo.
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The recycling exchange appealed for local government aid earlier this year, facing a lease expiry in March and a construction budget it can’t manage.
It wants the city to purchase land on Kenworth Road, build a facility and lease it to the organization, and councillors agreed to study a potential partnership along with other options for recycling services during a finance and audit committee meeting. That direction, however, was put on pause at last week’s council meeting when chief administrative officer Tracy Samra called for more time with staff to bring back different options. She called what was in front of council highly problematic and too prescriptive.
She also said “this falls outside of our jurisdiction and that there are other levels of government and other local governments that are better positioned to be dealing with this line of service.”
The new staff report shows council could refer the one-stop recycling services – and all the different options the city was considering – to the RDN, along with a recommendation from staff for the board to secure provision of the depot for residents of both jurisdictions. Alternatives are a partnership with the recycling exchange, a request for interest for depot services or to continue with the status quo.
“We are just taking a little bit of a step back and recognized that the city does absolutely share an interest, along with the RDN, in zero waste but this is the bailiwick of the RDN,” said Charlotte Davis, city manager of sanitation, recycling and public works administration.
Jan Hastings, executive director of the recycling exchange, told the News Bulletin she feels like she’s going in circles again.
“My letter to the city and RDN, the July 20 letter, I had mentioned I had been passed back and forth for years, each suggesting the other should pay,” she said. “To me it feels like nothing has changed and the biggest thing that hasn’t changed is the NRE will close in March.”
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