The environment surrounds and underlies everything we do. A healthy environment is essential for a healthy economy, healthy culture and healthy people. Powell River is gifted with beautiful surroundings, but protecting our area from local and global environmental risks will take effort and determination.
Even though the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) greenhouse gas inventory has not been updated, local governments in our area have continued to take action to reduce GHG emissions. In 2014 in the City, a Sustainability Steering Committee was formed; the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan was developed; energy and lighting audits of City facilities were carried out; bike lane budgets were approved (bike lanes were created in 2015); cycling plans moved forward; EV charging stations were researched (and installed in 2015); a transit service review was carried out; and water main replacements were done.
In the Regional District, two landfills were closed; a Resource Recovery Centre was planned; GHG emissions targets were set in all OCPs; a Regional Transportation Plan including Walking and Cycling Network Plan was adopted; public education was provided on active transportation; cycling and walking paths were built and planned; zero waste education was provided; energy efficient construction was implemented on new buildings; energy and water conservation upgrades were made to Texada Community Hall; and the Green Shores pilot project was started.
There are 277 hectares of Regional Parks and 18,094 hectares of Provincial Parks and Protected Areas within the Powell River Regional District. Since the 2011 Vital Signs report, the Regional District has developed 20 new Waterfront Access Sites; acquired two new Regional Parks (Boot Point Regional Park on Lasqueti Island and Divers Rock Regional Park north of Lund); and will be initiating a Regional Trails Plan late in 2015. Within the City, there are 98.79 hectares of parks, playing fields and open spaces, with no change since 2010.
Recycling and Waste
Solid waste levels are remaining constant in the region. In 2014, the Regional District exported 4604 tonnes (t) of municipal solid waste to external landfills, compared to 4,698 t in 2010 and 4470 t in 2013. Despite the confusion caused by the switch to the MMBC program, residents recycled 4,615 t of paper, plastics, metals, yard waste, gypsum, scrap metals and batteries, plus 7172 tires, 1045 litres of waste oil, and 301 units of freon (from fridges and freezers). Our diversion rate (material not going into the landfill) is 50%.
Powell River’s collection and handling systems produce a very clean recycling stream, with only 3% contamination, compared to the previous “green bin” program, which was often contaminated at higher levels, and up to 40% ended up in the landfill, anyway. The good news is that what we send to recycling now really is recycled. Locally, we’ve supplemented the program to accept items not in MMBC, such as plastic zipper bags, but the program needs to be further expanded to include products that are clearly recyclable but not currently accepted.
From the Survey …
Over the last four years, how do you think Powell River is doing on recycling, composting and other ways to reduce waste, energy use and pollution?
Compared to the previous Vital Signs survey, many more people think that our area is doing an excellent job. The survey indicates that we believe that things are moving slowly in the right direction.
In May 2015, Powell River finally achieved full ownership of Millennium Park—the trees as well as the land. Timber sales from the Powell River Community Forest provided the $1,181,250 to pay Island Timberlands for the timber rights on the Millennium Park lands. Powell River Community Forest Foundation makes sizable donations to local community groups and projects every year. Wouldn’t it be great if Island Timberlands acted as a responsible corporate citizen and contributed a chunk of its profits from Millennium Park back to the community?
Forest Fires and Smoke
2015’s hot, dry early summer brought forest fire danger home to Powell River. While we were lucky to have only minor fires locally, we watched nearby communities on the Lower Coast and Vancouver Island suffer major burns. For days in July, we woke up to ominous heavy yellow skies and falling ash flakes, as smoke from forest fires near Pemberton, in the BC interior and up north was blown into our area. In a warming climate, even our “wet” coast is not as wet as it used to be, and forest fire danger is greater.