The Road to Zero Waste

Visit the District of Squamish's Zero Waste page for:

• Updates on the implementation of Squamish's Zero Waste Strategy
• Tips on how to live a zero waste lifestyle
• Additional resources

Zero Waste Strategy

In the fall of 2016, the District of Squamish developed a Zero Waste Strategy to achieve an average 350 kg per person per year disposal rate with a corresponding diversion rate of 75% by 2020. The diversion rate is how much waste is diverted from the landfill, and is either recycled or composted instead. Click here to view the District of Squamish's Zero Waste Strategy. 

The development of the District of Squamish’s Zero Waste Strategy included public engagement, industry consultation, innovation and lessons learned from other communities who have achieved Zero Waste.

Recycling and waste reduction are interwoven into the fabric of what makes Squamish, Squamish. As a community surrounded on all sides by mountains and the ocean, environmental stewardship is integral to building a resilient and thriving city. Future-focused environmental stewardship, which incorporates community-wide waste reduction, is one of the guiding principles of the District of Squamish Council's Strategic Plan.   

Squamish has many waste diversion options for residents, including multiple drop-off locations for recycling and organics, residential recycling and organics collection for all single-family and townhouses, a free paint exchange location, a drop off for reusable construction materials at Squamish ReBuild, several extremely active non-governmental volunteer-based groups and more.

Considerable progress has been made, however more can be achieved as the District continues to move towards Zero Waste. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Zero Waste Strategy, please contact Shannon White, the District's Sustainability Coordinator at swhite@squamish.ca.

In May 2016, the District of Squamish conducted a waste audit of what is being thrown in the garbage. The above chart represents the breakdown of the overall findings.