Author Archives: David Esguerra

It’s shaping up to be a hot summer! This edition highlights Metro Vancouver’s lawn watering regulations and how it plans for the summer high water demand season.
Metro Vancouver has also released the results of its 2018 waste composition monitoring study, which analyzed the composition of the waste stream across 161 material categories, as well as its year-in-review for regional parks. Not surprisingly, visitor numbers at Metro Vancouver regional parks continued to climb last year, underscoring the important role regional parks play in connecting residents and visitors with a diversity of natural spaces and the need to provide more outdoor recreation spaces to serve the region’s growing population.
For those getting outside, the good news is that Metro Vancouver still has fresh, clean air to breathe. The 2019 Caring for the Air report, also released this month, suggests that while unprecedented levels of wildfire smoke have affected Metro Vancouver’s air quality in recent years, smog-forming pollutants are expected to continue to decline in Metro Vancouver over the next 20 years.
In other news, construction will start this summer on a Biogas Cleanup System at Metro Vancouver’s Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, while the National Zero Waste Council has made some recommendations to deal with 10 priority plastics that could end up as litter, in wastewater or in the oceans.
Metro Vancouver has also secured three keynote speakers for the ninth annual Zero Waste Conference, to be held later this year in October, and launched a Love Food Hate Waste Canada spring campaign.
For a closer look at what’s being done around the region in terms of housing affordability and community gardens, check out the Metro Vancouver Close-Up videos.
Enjoy!

Summer’s here! This edition highlights National Indigenous Peoples Day, on which Metro Vancouver hosted a visit of Squamish Nation’s Spakwus Slolem (Eagle Song Dancers) to head office, and a booth at Vancouver’s Trout Lake.

Metro Vancouver has also started a carpet recycling pilot program at the Coquitlam Transfer Station and is building several new water mains in the City of Surrey and an air management facility in Musqueam Park in South Vancouver.

A comprehensive inventory – and better understanding – of the natural resources within Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks is underway.

Metro Vancouver’s air quality division recently teamed up with Vancouver Coastal Health to help the media learn of the region’s role in air quality management, particularly when dealing with wildfire smoke.

Metro Vancouver has also approved its 2019-2022 Board Strategic Plan, which includes themes such as resiliency, climate action and innovation. Speaking of climate change, Metro Vancouver, along with the project consultant Diamond Head Consulting Ltd., was also recently awarded the Canadian Institute of Planners’ Award for Planning Excellence 2019 under the Climate Change Planning category.

Enjoy the summer and see you in September.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

Welcome to fall! As usual, there’s a lot going on at Metro Vancouver, including repairs to the Cleveland Dam spillway, a commitment to having the region become carbon neutral by 2050 and construction on the First Narrows Pump Station.

Metro Vancouver’s Liquid Waste Services Department was also recognized for its work on the South Surrey Interceptor, which conveys sewage from South Surrey, White Rock and Langley to the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project was named 2019 Canadian Project of the Year and also recognized as runner up for new installations.

In other news, Regional Parks staff have been working in Pacific Spirit Regional Park to boost the survival rate of a number of amphibians, including B.C. species at-risk, while Metro Vancouver has updated two campaigns – Hey! Food scraps aren’t garbage and Wipe It, Green Bin It – to remind people to compost veggie scraps and fats, oils and grease.

This summer Metro Vancouver participated in a Community-to-Community Forum with the Musqueam Indian Band. The Board has also endorsed a business plan for a new Regional Economic Prosperity Service in an effort to attract new strategic investment that will contribute positively to the region’s livability and sustainability. And don’t forget the Zero Waste Conference, which is coming up on October 30-31 in Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

​Welcome! It’s been a busy month at Metro Vancouver preparing for the ninth annual Zero Waste Conference, which wraps up today. The two-day conference drew more than 500 hundred participants who came out to hear some great insights from speakers involved in zero waste practices and the circular economy.

Metro Vancouver has also developed a Residential Water Metering in Metro Vancouver: Best Practices Guide, to support local government in making decisions around water metering, and is working on its next Clean Air Plan aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Metro Vancouver has also partnered with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) to assess the fate of viruses in the Liquid Waste management system and the potential risks associated with wastewater discharges.

For those of you embracing electric vehicles, Metro Vancouver finally has its own Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC). It is located in a publicly accessible parking area of Metro Vancouver’s head office in Burnaby. And did you know this year marks the 40th anniversary of Campbell Valley Regional Park? If you get a chance, check out this park’s natural wonders and rich heritage in the Township of Langley.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

Happy 2020! It’s been a busy start to the new decade.

New measures have come into effect to improve the region’s air quality, with owners of older non-road diesel engines, such as older forklifts, excavators and other engines, required to register their engines and new consultation started on an alternative approach to regulate emissions from open-air burning.

Work has begun on the Cariboo Dam, a regional storm water facility near the east end of Burnaby Lake that controls the lake’s water levels and regulates inflows into the Brunette River. Metro Vancouver also recently released its annual Solid Waste Summary, which shows residents are still doing well at diverting and recycling waste but more can always be done.

In other news, Metro Vancouver welcomed nearly 6,000 people to the watersheds this year, while thousands of students, seniors and people with financial barriers were able to visit Metro Vancouver’s regional parks, thanks to the Pacific Parklands Foundation’s (PPF) Bus Grant Program. With spring around the corner, hope you can get out and enjoy it.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

Welcome to our February newsletter! This was a busy month at Metro Vancouver, which hosted a  signing ceremony with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation for Belcarra Regional Park and the first of our Council of Councils for 2020.

Options are also being explored to modernize the region’s snowpack monitoring while public engagement is ongoing on major initiatives such as Metro 2050, and Climate 2050 and the Clean Air Plan. Metro Vancouver is also assessing the value of having advanced levels of treatment at each of the five wastewater treatment plants.

New bins were installed in Vancouver for disposable coffee cup recycling and the Think Thrice About Your Clothes campaign rolled out for the second year, reminding residents to donate old or unwanted clothes rather than throwing them in the garbage.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

Metro Vancouver continues to closely monitor the developments regarding COVID-19 and is taking proactive steps to ensure critical service levels, including the delivery of drinking water and the management of liquid and solid waste, are maintained at all times.

This issue highlights infrastructure projects that are planning for future water needs through the Coquitlam Intake No. 2 supply tunnel, and design approaches for the new Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant that will provide additional benefits for the community and environment.

New restrictions on open burning are now in effect and there are changes to how waste transfer stations and recycling depots operate during COVID. The Unflushables campaign is back to remind residents of what can – and can’t – be put down a toilet, to help keep our wastewater systems running well.

In Kanaka Creek Regional Park, salmon and trout are enjoying new habitat thanks to an enhancement project by a local community group.

Lastly, check out our videos to learn about an innovative project to turn wastewater into fuel, tour a new animal shelter and watch specialized divers at work in our region’s water and wastewater systems.

As Dr. Bonnie Henry says – Be Calm, Be Kind, Be Safe!

Together we make our region strong.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

As we begin to put the BC Restart Plan into action, Metro Vancouver remains focused on providing key services and supporting the region’s economic recovery.

In this issue we highlight new infrastructure at the Annacis Wastewater Treatment Plant, where a recently added energy system is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, changes at the North Shore Transfer Station are making it easier to return containers.

Yearly lawn watering regulations started on May 1^st, to conserve drinking water for the drier months ahead. Metro Vancouver’s new “Bag It. Bin It.” campaign is reminding everyone to properly dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE).

As people continue to adjust their routines and fewer cars are on the road, the region’s air quality has improved. Regional parks are seeing an increase in visitors, following a great year in 2019.

Check out our videos to learn about a tunnel boring project to make our drinking water supply more earthquake resilient and improvements to the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.

And speaking of viewing, you can also find out more about three new initiatives featuring current issues and past Metro Vancouver projects.

Together we make our region strong.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation that collaboratively plans for and delivers regional-scale services. Its core services are drinking water, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Metro Vancouver also regulates air quality, plans for urban growth, manages a regional parks system and provides affordable housing.

Welcome to the June issue of the Metro Vancouver Update. This issue finds us with change in the air: summer is on the way, and the Government of B.C. has announced the start of Phase 3 of its restart plan.

As the region continues to manage the impacts of COVID-19, you can read about how Metro Vancouver is working to ensure that the provincial government supports the region and the vital contribution that it makes to the B.C. economy. To help plan for possible future waves of the virus in the community, Metro Vancouver is also working with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and UBC to better understand the COVID-19 virus in wastewater.

This issue also highlights ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with Metro Vancouver achieving corporate carbon neutrality in 2019. A new report on the impacts of food packaging also looks at how to lower emissions related to food waste. A new trail is opening at Colony Farm Regional Park, Metro Vancouver is gearing up to protect watersheds from wildfires, and applications for regional cultural grants are now being accepted.

For a snapshot of the region, take a look at the COVID-19 dashboard to find the latest statistics on park visits, service levels and more.

Together we make our region strong.

This issue finds us with summer in full swing and Metro Vancouver residents are finding ways to safely enjoy summer activities and engage in their communities.

There is good news for those who like to be outside, as in this edition we highlight how the region’s air quality improved in 2019, according to the 2020 Caring for the Air report, and showcase the wilderness of Widgeon Marsh Regional Park.

You can also read about how Metro Vancouver is planning for the region’s future water needs, improving access to recycling information and looking at how to create a carbon neutral region.

As regional parks continue to see high numbers of visitors, Metro Vancouver is increasing measures to keep parks safe and enjoyable. Visitors can help keep parks open by following guidelines for physical distancing, parking and other measures.

The newsletter will be taking a break for August; we’ll be back with more news and videos in September. Enjoy the summer.

Together we make our region strong.

This issue likely finds many of us changing over to new routines as schools and community facilities continue to reopen and seasons shift, and enjoying some clear air after a smoky start to the month.

It’s a busy month on the waste reduction front: planning is in full swing for this year’s Zero Waste Conference in November, Metro Vancouver’s annual holiday campaign is launching (it’s never too early to start planning for the holidays), and new research from the National Zero Waste Council shows that we may be wasting less food.

In this issue we also check in on the region’s air quality, after days of air quality advisories, and take a look at a new model that is helping us understand how wastewater affects Burrard Inlet.

In the Capilano watershed, a recent project is making the area safe from debris flows. Regional parks continue to see high use, prompting staff to test new measures to manage parking issues and ensure that parks remain a much needed safe and enjoyable nature outlet during these times.

Together we make our region strong.

As we head into the final months of the year, we are busy planning for 2021 and beyond. On October 30, the Metro Vancouver Board endorsed Metro Vancouver’s 2021 operating budget, which will support work over the coming years.

On the utilities front, we are wrapping up the annual We Love Water campaign and assessing services at regional waste management stations.  This month, Metro Vancouver also released a map that is making real-time information on sewer overflows available to the public.

As part of continuing efforts to maintain good air quality, Metro Vancouver has approved a new residential wood burning bylaw, which will be phased in starting in 2021.

The Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy area is expanding, thanks to new lands added jointly by Metro Vancouver and the City of Delta.

Registration is still open for the annual – and always inspiring – Zero Waste Conference. This conference is a great opportunity to hear cutting edge thinking on how we can move towards a waste-free society. Residents of the region are also invited to watch a livestream of a series of forums on systemic racism being held for municipal elected officials.

Together we make our region strong.

Welcome to our last newsletter of the year! Winter is in full swing, the local mountains are full of snow and the holiday season is coming up fast.

In this issue we cover the tenth annual Zero Waste Conference, which looked a bit different this year, but continued to provide new ideas on how to move towards a lower waste society.

And speaking of waste reduction, how is the region doing? A new report has the latest data on how much went to landfill and recycling in 2019. We also have an update on two new solid waste facilities that will be completed next year and the renaming of transfer stations.

Salmon are getting a helping hand to re-establish themselves in the Seymour and Coquitlam drinking water supply areas and Metro Vancouver is looking at ways to enable more people to arrive at parks on foot, bike or bus.

We hosted the last forum on systemic racism on November 28, but you can still catch these important conversations on the livestream video here.

And as we head into the holidays, local artists Ben and Dan are back to take on a special gift giving challenge as part of the annual Create Memories, Not Garbage campaign.

Happy holidays and see you in January!

Happy New Year and welcome to the January Metro Vancouver Update. We are excited to share some of our latest projects and initiatives as we dive into 2021.

We are pleased to announce that David Flaks has been appointed as the new president of the Regional Economic Prosperity Service, which will work to realize the region’s full economic potential.

In this issue we highlight other new developments including a look at new technologies to help manage our sewer system and water supply, and a recently approved greenways plan to keep us moving towards an integrated network of greenways across the region.

We are also sharing how to recycle e-waste and reviewing our air quality bylaw to better reflect costs, particularly with regard to odour-related emissions.

We look forward to keeping you up to date on important developments through 2021.

Welcome to the Metro Vancouver Spring Update.

Seeing the tulips and cherry blossoms begin to bloom reminds us that spring has returned — and that means more time spent outside and, of course, spring cleaning!

One thing was made very clear in the month of January — Metro Vancouver residents love the great outdoors. In January, 1.2 million visitations were recorded at regional parks, more than double the 550,000 visits in January 2020. However, as you will read in this issue, the popularity of Metro Vancouver regional parks and greenways has resulted in a greater need for ways to manage increased demand.

Also in this issue, we will share tips and tricks for reducing waste — from clothing, to household clutter, to renovation debris.

You can learn about the problems that inflow and infiltration in the sewer system can cause for residents and businesses, as well as how children can go on a virtual watershed field trip.

We are also seeking your input on a series of discussion papers that will help us achieve Climate 2050 goals of a carbon neutral and resilient region over the next 30 years.

Thank you for reading the Metro Vancouver Update. Together we make our region strong.

Welcome to the March 2021 issue of the Metro Vancouver Update.

Here is a fact that may astonish you — Metro Vancouver residents disposed of 528 million pieces of personal protective equipment in 2020! In this issue, you can read more about the rate of PPE disposal and the other surprising findings from the 2020 Solid Waste Composition Study.

Also in this issue, learn how you can have a say in the draft Clean Air Plan, which seeks to reduce air contaminant emissions and impacts, including greenhouse gases, over the next 10 years. Plus, learn more about “food forests” as we explore this gardening trend that you can try in your own backyard.

Thank you for reading the Metro Vancouver Update. Together we make our region strong.

Welcome to the April 2021 issue of the Metro Vancouver Update.

Recent sunny weather inspired many residents to get outside and explore Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. When done safely, time in the great outdoors is good for your mental and physical health, according to a growing body of research. In this issue, we will explore the recent findings of UBC’s Dr. Larry Frank whose work examines the relationship between health and the built environment.

Two important regulations come into effect in May: lawn watering regulations starting May 1, and residential wood-burning restrictions starting May 15. These restrictions are important for maintaining and improving the condition of our natural resources — clean water and high air quality. In this issue you can find out more about these regulations, as well as how you can help preserve our water supply and contribute to a healthier region.

Thank you for reading the Metro Vancouver Update. Together we make our region strong.

Stay safe and stay local while enjoying the latest issue of Metro Vancouver Update!

We have a lot to appreciate in our region — from our extraordinary regional parks and greenways, to the essential services and infrastructure that form the foundation for our well-being.

In this issue, we celebrate Metro Vancouver as the top urban centre in the country for youth to work, according to the 2021 Youthful Cities Urban Work Index.

You will also read about how the new renewable natural gas facility at the Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is set to go into full commercial operation soon, with the ability to heat up to 600 homes. Learn more about the new Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre, which is expected to be complete by the end of this year and open in early 2022. Plus, we remind residents that using reusable items instead of single-use products can make you an everyday superhero! These types of projects and campaigns are examples of how we can reduce waste and create energy for a more environmentally sustainable region.

Thank you for reading the Metro Vancouver Update. Together we make our region strong…and a great place to be!

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Welcome to the June issue of Metro Vancouver Update.

In this issue, you can read more about the 10th annual Caring for the Air 2021 report, which reveals that despite population growth, Metro Vancouver’s air quality has steadily improved over the past decade. Our improved air quality can be attributed to progressive regulations, proactive management plans, more stringent air quality objectives, and education and outreach programs.

Interestingly, behaviours associated with the COVID-19 pandemic also led to improved air quality in our region. For instance, the region’s air quality benefited from lower levels of transportation-related emissions because there were fewer vehicles on the road.

Also in this issue, learn how Metro Vancouver is working with the City of Delta to enhance green spaces through the development of a management plan that will include plans for public access, park amenities, habitat enhancement and nature education. On top of that, this issue also includes information on the new United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre in Coquitlam, which will serve residents throughout the region.

As the weather gets warmer, water conservation should remain top of mind for all residents in the region. Metro Vancouver delivers about one billion litres of treated drinking water each day to member jurisdictions, however water use can increase by 50% in the summer and early fall, largely due to lawn watering. Learn more about water-wise lawn care and other tips to use less water in this issue.

Thank you for reading the Metro Vancouver Update. Together we make our region strong.

Welcome to the July issue of the Metro Vancouver Update.

Dry, hot weather has resulted in devastating wildfires across the province. In this issue, learn how highly trained Metro Vancouver watershed protection wildfire crews are helping with the province’s wildfire response, and how to enjoy regional parks when the fire rating is high or extreme.

In this issue, you can also read about the Metro Vancouver Zero Emission Innovation Centre, one of seven Low Carbon Cities Canada Centres designed to support a wide range of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the addition of 3.4 hectares of newly acquired property to Kanaka Creek Regional Park in Maple Ridge.

Stop by and say hello to Metro Vancouver at the PNE this summer, and be sure to register for the 2021 Zero Waste Conference, schedule to take place on October 28. You can find out more about both events in this issue.

Thanks for reading the July issue of Metro Vancouver Update. We look forward to reconnecting in September. Together we make our region strong.