AFTER two years and a successful pilot program, West Vancouver residents may soon be tossing chicken bones and bacon rinds into little green bins that would join garbage cans and the blue recycling box at the curb.
Council voted unanimously to approve a $380,000 expenditure on the food scraps recycling program at its Feb. 6 meeting.
"The cost of dumping garbage is getting increasingly higher," said engineering services manager Phil Bates.
The green bin program would not require any additional staff or equipment following the purchase of the $30 cans, according to Bates.
Diverting food scraps from incinerators and landfills is the only method the district can employ to significantly cut its waste output, Bates said.
"I wouldn't be interested in having a free green bin," said Coun. Nora Gambioli, adding that she composts extensively.
"It's great to hear that everybody composts, but there's some things that simply shouldn't go into a compost bin," said Coun. Trish Panz. "I am fully supportive of this expenditure."
Residents could use the cans for meat, dairy and grease that is not suitable for composting, according to Bates.
The 46-litre bins come with a pest-resistant latch and are easy to clean, particularly if residents wrap their food scraps in newspaper, Bates told council.
Metro Vancouver is currently scheduled to mandate municipal food scraps recycling programs by 2015.
West Vancouver's green can program could start as early as May 1.
