Reducing household waste can be easy when you think about what you’re buying and where it will go after you are done with it. In 2019, British Columbians disposed of an average of 501 kg of household waste per person, much of which could have been diverted from landfill by recycling or composting. However, the most effective way to reduce waste is to avoid creating it in the first place.
By following the first three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) of the provincial pollution prevention hierarchy, a significant impact can be made. See below for some initiatives undertaken by the City to help reduce waste and for tips on how you can make changes in your everyday life.
Compost Giveaway
Thank you Abbotsford residents for your waste diversion efforts! Through your participation in the City’s curbside collection program we diverted approximately 14,600 tonnes of yard and food waste in 2021. That is about the same weight as 150 blue whales or 20,000 cows!
The City is planning to offer free compost to Abbotsford residents in 2023. Check back soon for details on the 2023 giveaway.
Waste Reduction Tips
Reducing household waste can be easy when you think about what you’re buying and where it will go after you are done with it. So many decisions we make on a daily basis have a major impact on how much waste we generate. See below for some ideas on how you can make small changes that are eco-friendly and will have a lasting effect!
Love Food Hate Waste
Did you know that 63% of food Canadians throw away could, at one point, have been eaten? For the average Canadian household that amounts to 140 kilograms of waste food per year – at a cost of more than $1,100 per year. All types of food are wasted, but in Canada the most commonly wasted foods by weight are vegetables, fruit, leftovers, bread and bakery items, followed by dairy and eggs.
The good news is that this problem is easy to solve. The City has teamed up with the Fraser Valley Regional District to participate in the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign with the hopes of inspiring and empowering residents to make their food go further and waste less. The Love Food Hate Waste campaign offers tips on food storage, meal planning and smarter shopping habits to help people avoid over-purchasing, and therefore throwing out, food.
