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PoCo's diversion rate up slightly

Port Coquitlam continues to inch toward its goal of increasing the amount of waste it diverts from the landfill to 70% by 2015. In 2012, PoCo had a diversion rate of 63%, up 0.7% from the 62.3% that was diverted in 2011.

Port Coquitlam continues to inch toward its goal of increasing the amount of waste it diverts from the landfill to 70% by 2015.

In 2012, PoCo had a diversion rate of 63%, up 0.7% from the 62.3% that was diverted in 2011. The city also saw an increase in the amount of green waste being collected, up 173 tonnes, while a 68-tonne decrease in recycling and an 84-tonne decrease in garbage were noted in a staff report.

Gord Voncina, the city's operations manager, told The Tri-City News the 2% decrease in recycling can be attributed to several factors. Residents are being more conscious of the products they buy and industry is responding by reducing the weight of the packaging, he said, also noting that many people are using paper products to wrap their green waste, further adding to the decrease in blue bin collection.

"Residents are being more selective about the things they buy and wrap," he said. "All of those things shifting the market ever so slightly."

Currently, 39% of all waste collected comes from the city's green bins while another 24% comes from the blue bin, which makes up the 63% diversion rate.

But if the city hopes to achieve its 70% diversion goal by 2015, more people are going to have to divert their waste.

PoCo hopes that a stepped-up communications plan will encourage residents to consider waste separation and a 2013 work program will focus on social marketing and increased engagement, said Voncina.

More residents of multi-family complexes are also participating in the program, with 14 complexes making up 423 units subscribing to the city's curbside collection of kitchen scraps. Twelve other complexes have expressed an interest in the program.

"I think [the goal] is doable," Voncina said. "We still need to continue with out programs and our communications initiatives with residents It is really just a matter of implementing those initiatives and keeping us all moving forward."

gmckenna@tricitynews.com