Waste

In 2021, the District launched a gas collection system that captures methane from the landfill and stores it for future energy usage. The system captures up to 75% of landfill emissions and supports progress toward the District’s 2030 climate targets. Squamish is also working toward achieving carbon credits for this system.

A key resource for residents, the What Goes Where Guide, has info on where to bring items for recycling in Squamish. The tool is translated into French and Punjabi as well.

• All businesses in Squamish, including restaurants, must separate their waste into organics, recycling, and landfill waste. The Solid Waste & Utility Bylaw requires that business owners and managers must make best efforts to reduce contamination by educating staff and providing training.
• Adopted in 2022, the Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw regulates the distribution of single-use items such as plastic bags and takeout containers.
• As of  2025, all food service businesses that apply for a business permit in Squamish must submit a Waste Diversion Management Plan as part of their application. Plans are reviewed and responded to by the Sustainability team.  
• Events hosted in Squamish must follow waste diversion goals and separate waste into recycling, organics, and residual waste.
• Every special event in Squamish requires a waste management plan that outlines waste storage, servicing, diversion, and efforts to reduce contamination. Waste management plans are reviewed during the event permitting stage.  

Under the Demolition Waste Diversion Bylaw, users must pay a refundable fee of $20 per square metre along with their Permit Application. When 80% or more of the waste is diverted by volume, the fee is refunded. Material can be sold or donated for reuse for 2x the diversion credit. The District has hosted Builders Breakfasts  and a range of educational resources  to support construction and demolition waste diversion in Squamish. 

From the ReUse-It Fair, Repair Cafés to clothing swaps, the District of Squamish hosts annual events to make it fun and easy to extend the life of clothing, toys, books, and household items. Check the events calendar for upcoming events.  

• For business and residents, the circular economy is a new way of looking at how everything is made and used. Circularity keeps products, components, and materials at their highest value. It begins with caring for the environment at the very beginning of the production cycle by prioritizing regenerative resources, stretching the lifetime of the product, and using waste as a resource.  
• The District has a Circular Economy Implementation Plan that guides actions on 
  circularity (along with the Zero Waste Action Plan). 
• In 2024, the District ran a Trailblazer Program, bringing together changemakers across industries to explore circular economy concepts. Over $110,000 was distributed to 13 organizations within the community to grow their circular practices and support circularity in Squamish.
• The District has been recognized for its leadership in circularity. Squamish has participated in a Canadian Circular Cities Regional Initiative (CCRI), which brings Canadian communities together to share ideas and best practices in this space. Squamish also participates in Circular Economy Month every year

Events hosted in Squamish must follow waste diversion goals and separate waste into recycling, organics, and residual waste. Every special event in Squamish requires a waste management plan that outlines waste storage, servicing, diversion, and efforts to reduce contamination. Waste management plans are reviewed during the event permitting stage.