Environmental Management Act Municipal Waste Management Hana Stoer, Marie Xyla Emmanuel Vital, Zachery Young Supervisor: Dr. Mehdi Bagheri Environmental Policy (CIVE 315) University of Victoria Department of Civil Engineering

Table of Contents History of Municipal Waste Management Legislation ………………………… 3 Environmental Management Act Summary ……………………………………. 4 Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………….. 4 Waste Management Plans ……………………………………………………. 5 Solid Waste and Recycling Authority ………………………………….......... 6 Sewage ………………………………………………………………………… 7 Regulations Specific to Greater Vancouver………………………………….. 8 Relevance to BC Waste Management Plans …………………………………..... 9 Remarks and Recommendations ……………………………………………....... 10

History of Municipal Waste Management Legislation The original act governing Municipal Waste Management was the BC Waste Management Act, created in 1996. This act was replaced by Part 3 of the EMA in 2004.

EMA Part 3 Summary Definition of Terms [1, Sec 23] This section of the EMA initially requires the defining of the terms: Code of Practice - The terms of practice that are included in a bylaw. Hauler - A person who commercially transports any type of municipal solid waste. Management - Any kind of involvement with the process of dealing with waste. Municipal Liquid Waste - Any effluent that is discharged into the sewer or the ground. Municipal Solid Waste - Any refuse that is generated by residential or industrial sources. Sewage Facility - Any works that involve dealing with sewage.

EMA Part 3 Summary Waste Management Plans [1, Sec. 24] The EMA provides regulations for the creation of regional waste management plans. The governing stipulations for waste management plans ar that they must: Benefit the entire regional district. Comply with regulations. Have a plan for biomedical waste. On top of this, a minister has the authority to change, cancel, or approve almost any aspect of a proposed plan, or even a plan that is currently in effect.

EMA Part 3 Summary Solid Waste & Recycling Authority [1, Sec. 25-26] Hauler licences, recycler licences, and waste stream management licences are all licences that are issued by a regional district, under the regulation of a bylaw. The regional district has the authority to create or change bylaws that govern solid waste management, which in turn can affect how these licences work. Additionally, the regional district has the authority to put fees in place for the management of solid waste and recyclable materials.

EMA Part 3 Summary Sewage [1, Sec. 29-30] The municipality’s governing body must appoint sewage control managers and officers. These appointed officials have the authority to determine the necessary information needed to regulate discharged, stored, or transported waste. Specifically, records are necessary to determine what the situation is for waste generated on any property that is not residential. If this waste is being discharged into sewers, appropriate restrictions and requirements apply.

EMA Part 3 Summary Regulations Specific to Greater Vancouver [1, Sec. 31-32] Greater Vancouver Regional District Air Contaminant Control. Determines fines and fees for air contamination. Establishes regulations and prohibitions for amounts of air contaminant. Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in Greater Vancouver. Defines fines and fees for air contamination. Shows records and necessary information needed when dealing with MSW

Relevance to BC Waste Management Plans Each of Canada’s 29 regional districts uses the EMA as a basis for creating waste management plans. The EMA outlines the roles of each level of government, when creating and managing a waste management plan. Specifically, with the Capital Regional District’s Integrated Solid Waste & Resource Management Plan, created in 2012. This plan links the CRD Strategic Plan, Regional Sustainability Strategy, Climate Action Plan, and the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan. With this integrated plan, it is easier for the CRD to apply management plans that both preserve and better the environment.

Remarks and Recommendations From recent studies regarding Canada’s municipal waste, the EMA appears to effective. The regional municipal waste management plans put in place using the EMA’s governing structure have been succeeding in reducing per capita waste every year in BC, especially within recent years. The main issue is that still needs to be handled is that in low population / isolated areas of BC, it is difficult to manage municipal waste effectively when these areas have a lack of infrastructure and resources.

References [1] Environmental Management Act, Chapter 53, Part 3 – Municipal Waste Management Retrieved from: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/LOC/lc/statreg/--%20E%20--/Environmental%20Management%20Act%20[SBC%202003]%20c.%2053/00_Act/03053_03.xml#part3