City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010

Environmentcommitment to sustainable policies andpractices for the good of our communitySustainable KamloopsOpen House seeks dialogueA public forum to educate and encourageinput on the city’s vision for sustainabilitydrew participation from about 150Kamloops people who identified air quality,energy planning and food security as topissues for 2010 and beyond. The SustainableKamloops Open House provided individualsa chance to voice concerns to City staffand give opinion on community planningacross social, economic, and environmentalperspectives for the next 20 to 50 years.Participants heard presentations and tookpart in group discussions on issues such assolid waste, energy and greenhouse gasemissions, air and water quality, as wellas housing, community safety, recreation,education, arts and culture. The SustainableKamloops video “We Can” was also unveiledduring the day-long event.Advisory committee toguide Airshed PlanDevelopment of an Airshed ManagementPlan for Kamloops moved a step closer in2010 with the formation of a city-appointedadvisory committee to help guide theprocess. The Airshed Plan, which willinclude policy on protecting and improvinglocal air quality, will be developed overthe next two years. The committee hasrepresentation from the Mayor and CityCouncil, along with two members of thepublic as well as representation from theTk’emlups Indian Band and ThompsonNicola Regional District. The state of ourairshed has become a top issue for the cityand the development of a long-term planwill involve further public consultation andultimately, air quality management throughregulation and education. This initiativeis part of the larger SustainableKamloops vision.Multi-family recyclingprogram succeeds to makegreen improvementsBased on the success of the City’s residentialcurbside recycling program, a new pilotinitiative involving 40 multi-family housinglocations across Kamloops made it possiblefor residents to divert up to 40% of theirwaste from the landfill. Previously theseresidents were required to recycle materialsat one of four Kamloops recycling depots.City administration will use these resultsto propose an extension of the programto all multi-family housing locations in thecommunity. Curbside recycling supportsthe long-term goals of the SustainableKamloops Plan, which has a target of a 50%reduction in waste landfilled by 2020. Nextsteps involve a proposal to City Council tolaunch the program fully in fall 2011.10 City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010