Good treasure in trash. Bylaw 280.

Bylaw 280 is a garbage hauling bylaw.  It is a proposed rule that says if you make garbage here, you have to dump it here, at one of the government approved places.

Bylaw 280 aims to stop the increasing trend of hauling waste to Oregon.

One year ago Bylaw 280 was unanimously passed and supported at the civic level.  It requires Provincial approval, Mary Polak - Minister of Environment, in order to be enacted. Her decision is expected soon.

Bylaw 280 has been described as: 

1) a Tax Grab

2) a step towards an Incinerator

3) help for Recycle & Diversion

4) part of Provincial Recycle Plan

5) the best option to share costs

6) A Substantial Move

I think Bylaw 280 is all of the above.  It is a big deal.  

It represents a fundamental decision about what governments role is, in the lives of citizens.  

Like water, education & ferries I believe it makes sense for waste to be a public responsibility.  There is more than money at stake here.  There is a bigger picture - its about the planet, the air, the water and how we shape economic activity moving forward.  

If enacted Bylaw 280 will create more government.  

How exactly that happens - exactly what, when & how this new bureaucracy is set up & operates is vitally important.  I believe it should and will happen.  I can see that the responsibility to see it done right, is one of the biggest challenges facing elected officials and citizens this generation.

A robust, progressive waste management system is a vital part of the modern world.  It simply has to be balance the interests of all stakeholders - private, public and Non Profit.

Bylaw 280 makes it clear whose job "trash" is and how it will be funded.  I sincerely support it and want to be involved in the process, in the solution.

The "treasure" in trash is more than money - support bylaw 280.