Metro Vancouver businesses called out for wasting food
By Angela Espinoza, News Editor
Food disposal bins are now required for major food businesses of Metro Vancouver as of January 1.
The green bins are a response to the vast amount of food waste the city produces each year. A report from Value Chain Management International from December stated that roughly $31-billion is wasted on food disposed of each year in Canada.
Businesses that will be using the bins include restaurants and grocery stores, both of which play large roles in contributing to mass food waste. Farms were also blamed for mass food waste, making up 10 per cent of food waste in Canada, according to the Value Chain report.
In an interview with CBC, Malcolm Brodie, Chair of Vancouver’s Zero Waste Committee, stated, “We recognize there may be unique challenges initially for some businesses and this phased approach is intended to help resolve any issues.”
The introduction of the bins is part of a citywide plan to encourage recycling and healthier living throughout Vancouver in 2015.
CBC has also stated that in order to enforce regular use of the food waste bins, garbage picked up from contributing companies will have their garbage inspected, and will be flagged if garbage contains more than 25 per cent food compared to what’s collected from food waste bins.
Food waste recycling was earlier introduced to Metro Vancouver homes with smaller bins, and has been successfully in practice for the past year.
