Solid Waste Master Plan: Shaping the Future of Waste Management in New West

Project Update, February 5, 2025: Thank you for sharing your experiences, ideas and priorities about New Westminster’s solid waste management! City staff are now pleased to share the What We Heard Engagement Summary Report. Click here to read the report.

Your input supported the Solid Waste Master Plan's goals of providing efficient and cost-effective waste services, while helping residents and businesses reduce waste and avoid contaminating our different waste streams. Staff are now working to use the feedback collected to develop recommendations for the Master Plan. The final Plan will be presented to Council in summer 2025, check back here for updates as the Plan is finalized!

Project Update, December 9, 2024: The engagement phase for the Solid Waste Master Plan has concluded. Thank you to everyone who shared their input and participated in the engagement activities. City staff are now working to analyze and incorporate your feedback and preferences into the Plan. In the meantime, check out some pictures from our pop-ups and the results of our Quick Poll below. Stay tuned for more updates and a full report on what we heard through this engagement!

The Solid Waste Utility is a service managed by the City of New Westminster that oversees the collection, and disposal of waste materials from homes, businesses, and other organizations. This includes the collection of garbage, recycling, and organics (food and yard waste) within New West.

The City is working towards the goals of providing efficient and cost effective waste services, while helping residents and businesses reduce waste and avoid contaminating our different waste streams (when items end up in the wrong waste bin).

The City is developing a Solid Waste Master Plan to help reach these goals. The Plan will outline recommendations that:

	Promote a circular economy by reducing waste and keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible.
	Reduce contamination by minimizing the amount of incorrect items that end up in recycling or organics bins.
	Improve operations by making waste collection more efficient and effective. This includes reviewing collection routes and truck sizes, adapting collection schedules to community needs, and organizing special pickups.
	Strengthen enforcement of solid waste regulations and bylaws to ensure proper waste management practices are followed throughout the city. This might involve fines for repeated contamination in recycling or organics bins, as well as monitoring for illegal dumping.

What is the Solid Waste Master Plan?

A Solid Waste Master Plan is a detailed strategy that explains how a City manages its waste, recycling, and organics over the long term. It looks at the current system, identifies challenges, and sets goals for reducing contamination, increasing recycling, and making the system more efficient. The plan addresses how waste is collected, processed, and disposed of. It also explores ways to promote sustainability, reduce contamination, and support a circular economy.

For New Westminster, the Solid Waste Master Plan will guide the future of waste management by providing clear recommendations to improve services, make operations more efficient, and encourage responsible waste practices. It will also help the City adapt to future growth, legislative changes, and environmental priorities. Community input will play a key role in shaping this plan to reflect local needs and goals.

How Can I Engage?

In November and December 2024, the City asked for feedback from residents and business owners about what’s working with our current waste system and where we can improve. We also asked what programs you’d like to see more of and how you think we can best educate the community on circular economy practices and reducing contamination.

Engagement activities included a survey, online ideas tool, and pop-up events.