Vancouver campaigns combat increasing public waste disposal

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Record-breaking temperatures and reduced social distancing measures have led to an increasing number of people using public spaces, resulting in higher amounts of waste being left behind.

In an email to The Runner Ryan Krumins, a communications specialist with the City of Vancouver said that there was “a 27% increase in calls related to public waste receptacles needing service in April/May,” which the City responded to by increasing the number and collection frequency of garbage receptacles since then.

According to a public announcement made on July 2, the City installed an “additional 200+ waste bins … in high priority areas such as parks and public plazas,” and is replacing “small waste bins … with larger “cart enclosure” [ones] to … reduce overflow.”

An online campaign was launched on July 5 “to raise awareness of the negative impacts litter” can have along with “tips to help keep Vancouver clean and litter free.”

The campaign, titled “Put Waste in its Place” is being broadcast on social and digital media channels throughout the summer with an emphasis on the “shared responsibility” everyone has of “keeping our city clean.”

Doug Thomas, an engineering assistant with the City of Vancouver in an email to The Runner said that “they want to remind residents (and businesses) [that] … our public spaces are for everyone to enjoy and we all have a part to play to keep our cherished plazas, parks and beaches clean.”

In addition to encouraging people to place waste in the nearby garbage, recycling, or organics bins, the City’s website states that for group gatherings residents should “plan ahead and use the ‘Pack-In, Pack-Out’ method … so [waste] can be sorted into the proper stream” at home.

The campaign also includes information about their volunteer-based program Adopt-A-Block, which “encourages residents, businesses, and organizations to take an active role in keeping their community healthy and litter-free, while … strengthening important community relationships.” 

Joining the program involves choosing a block or area you would like to adopt, and making a pledge to keep it clean for the duration of a year by making an effort to pick up litter at least once a month.

Another ongoing green city initiative is the Neighbourhood Cleanup Party, where residents can host “parties” for which the City provides supplies like garbage bags and gloves and free pickup of the litter afterwards.

Thomas says that although the City has “used elements of this [kind of] litter awareness campaign in the recent past … it isn’t possible to measure the direct impacts other than tracking interactions on social media.”

“Including a behaviour change component in our litter campaign is an integral part of our public realm cleanliness strategy,” he says.

If more waste continues to be generated, Thomas says that “adjustments can be made to aspects of our strategy.”

This includes “increasing city service levels and infrastructure, testing different educational/awareness tactics, increasing enforcement where possible, and leveraging partnerships with stakeholders such as businesses, residents, non-profits, [and] other levels of government, etc.”

The City also employs “seven full-time Street Use Inspectors” who “ inspect, educate, and enforce a variety of by-laws associated with street cleanliness issues.” 

The City’s website states that the inspection team investigated over 3,800 by-law infractions last year.

An additional $1.28 million was approved by the council for the 2021 operating budget to enhance city street cleaning services.

The primary areas seeing a lot of current use are parks and beaches, “so, we’re making sure those areas are well covered,” said Krumins.