Outdoor Burning and Green Waste

On November 23, 2020, Council directed staff to develop a Green Waste Disposal Strategy to determine the most cost effective and fair manner of managing green waste disposal for residential/commercial, agricultural/ALR, and subdivision/ development lands by examining disposal alternatives such as outdoor burning, green waste facility, and seasonal pick up service while keeping in mind the guiding principles and suggested timeline Milestones (attached).

Background

Outdoor burning has been allowed in North Saanich for many years as a way to manage excess green waste. However, there is a growing awareness about the impact of outdoor burning on air quality, and in turn, the impact of poor air quality on human health, particularly for vulnerable individuals including children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions. There is also a growing awareness that outdoor burning contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The District is considering what changes to make to the outdoor burning rules and green waste drop-off service levels to address these concerns.

The District launched a survey on July 15, 2020 (closed August 17, 2020) to find out about the community's perspective on these issues. This information will help inform staff recommendations and Council's decisions regarding any changes to the rules or drop-off service.