Solid Waste Management and the Prosperity of Nova Scotia - Bill Lahey, Clean Nova Scotia/Dalhousie University/former Dep. Minister Environment & Labour

1. Solid Waste Management and
Sustainable Prosperity
A View of the Nova Scotia Story

2. The Question
Can the governance lessons learned from
Nova Scotia’s success in solid waste
management be the foundation of new
economic and environmental prosperity?

3. EGSPA: 2007 to 2020
• Full integration of
environmental and
economic objectives
• Cleanest and most
sustainable environment
• Economy at or above
Canadian average
• 21 specific environmental
goals as drivers

4. A New Paradigm
• Broad consultations
Opportunities for Sustainable • Premier’s Council
Prosperity 2006 on Innovation
• Novaknowledge
A Renewed Economic Growth Report Card on the
Strategy for Nova Scotia
Environmental
Economy
• GPI Report on Solid
Waste System

5. Economic Realities
• GDP per capita $10,000 below average
• Labour productivity 80% of the average
• Low end labour participation rate
• Low end hourly wage
• Low end family income
• “By almost every measure, N.S. is trailing
behind the Canadian average”

6. The Prototype
• 1995 Environment Act
– Consolidates 13 Acts
– Articulates a sustainable development
philosophy
– Stresses economic instruments
– Puts goal of 50% waste diversion by 2000
into law

7. Before
• Many disposal sites
of varying quality
• Major landfill
controversies and
failures
• 20 open burning sites
• Disposal rate of 726
kg/person/yr

8. After
• CCME 50% diversion • Recycling rate 68%
target met in 2000 above average
• Numerous landfills • Composting rate over
replaced with seven 2nd 40% above average
generation facilities • Disposal rate (430
• No incineration kg/person) 50% below
• Net savings above $31M average
a year despite increased • 360,000 tons diverted
capital cost of $24/person annually
• 100% access to curbside • 10 industry stewardship
recycling and 90% programs
access to curbside • Active R&D
organic collection

9. And more broadly…
• 1,000 direct jobs
• Strong growth in environmental services
sector and export activity
• Important intangibles
– Provincial/Civic pride
– Significant growth in environmental
consciousness and policy ethos
– Social governance capital

10. How Did it Happen?

11. One Answer
Source
Separated
Collection
Three
Material 50 to 55 % 15 to 30%
Streams Organics Residual
20 to 30%Dry Recyclables Waste
Composting Landfill
Recycling
Facility Facility
Facility
Processing

12. Another Answer
Phase 1: Assess the ground
Social context & background
Timing
Assess level of public knowledge
Understand impact of previous
experiences & events
Willingness to
Phase 2:Develop
change Open minded and buy-in
Phase 4: Operation mutually
and continuous Inclusiveness respectful Leadership with long-
improvement and shared participation term goals
responsibility Research
Data collection & CHANGE
sharing PRINCIPLES Public education
Communication & Long-term Emphasis Dialogue and
information flow capacity- on information sharing
Process
Set new targets building Grassroots activism
Leadership Demonstration
projects
Phase 3: Implementation
Foster Innovation
Consultation
Stakeholder & public engagement
Sticks & carrots
Share benefits, resources, and opportunities
Leadership

13. The Principles
• Government steers, others row
• Emphasis on shared responsibility
• Inclusive decision-making
• Emphasis on process outside politics
• Openness to change and innovation
• Active attention to building the capacity
demanded by objectives
• Leadership from all directions

14. Applying the Principles in …
• In assessing the • In developing buy-in
ground – CCME target
– Recognition and – Municipal studies of
acceptance of the the economics
failure of command & – Citizens/NGOs invited
control and of the into the policy process
strength of citizen
– Lunenburg as
opposition to
demonstration project
incineration in Halifax

15. In Implementation
• White Paper on legislation
• Putting the target and the philosophy in law
• Regional studies on feasibility & the how
• SWM Strategy (Carrots and sticks)
• SWM Regions
• Deposit System
• Depot Network, RRFB
• Stewardship programs
• Landfill standards and bans

16. In operations and continuous
improvement
• Regional Chairs
• RRFB education and R&D funding
• Information systems and EBDM
– CB incinerator
– Clear plastic bags
• Enforcement
• New target/additional bans

17. Again….
Can the governance lessons learned from
Nova Scotia’s success in solid waste
management be the foundation of a new
economic and environmental prosperity?

18. Some of the Goals
• By 2010 • By 2015
– 20% reduction of NO2 – Energuide standard of 80
– 70% reduction of mercury for new dwellings
emissions – SW disposal rate of
– 50% reduction in SO2 300kg/person
– No net loss of wetlands – 12% of land protected for
(2009) conservation
– Sustainability frameworks – 18½ of electricity from
for forestry, mining, parks, renewable sources
and biodiversity • By 2020
– Regulatory tools for – All wastewater treated
development of (2007)
contaminated sites
– GHG 10% below 1990
levels

19. The Prosperity Model

20. The Governance Model
• Annual Comprehensive Progress Reports
• Environmental Roundtable
• Goal specific deliberations
– Colin Stewart Forestry Forum
– Wheeler processes on DSM administration
and renewable energy
– Extensive policy consultations on policies on
natural resources
– Renewal of the SWMS

21. Is it Working?
• A long-term question
• Approach has survived political transition
• But
– Economic goals remain very general
– Public attention is largely elsewhere
– Evaluation framework is lacking

22. And Yet …
• Goals are being met
– Accelerated decision-making on wilderness
conservation
– North America’s 1st hard GHC caps for electrical utility
– Ambitious DSM targets are being met
– Progress toward stronger renewable energy
objectives continues
– New frameworks for water, wetlands, natural
resources, biodiversity and solid waste in progress

23. Final Thoughts
• Outcome will depend on many factors
outside of the goals
• Greatest value may lie in building “social
ingenuity” that can transform how the
province is governed
• If so, solid waste management will have
shown the way

24. Thank You
• Kay Crinean
• Marah Haywood
• Bob Kenney
• All my former colleagues at the NS Dept.
of Environment and Labour