Whistler has made modest progress in diverting waste from the landfill, according to a new update presented to council on June 10—but the community remains far from achieving its ambitious target of reducing landfill waste by 80 per cent by 2030.
Council received the 2024 Progress Report on the Zero Waste Action Plan, which revealed Whistler sent 11,577 tonnes of waste to landfill in 2024—down slightly from the 11,841 tonnes recorded in 2019. The community’s goal is to reduce that total to 2,368 tonnes by 2030, a target some councillors now view as unrealistic.
“We are far, far away from reaching our target, and we do need to work on continuing to reduce our waste,” said zero waste coordinator Lauren Harrison during the meeting.
The report detailed the breakdown of Whistler’s waste stream: 72 per cent came from the industrial, commercial and multi-family (ICI/MFR) sector; 15 per cent from construction and demolition; and 13 per cent from residential depots.
Councillor Ralph Forsyth questioned how much of the ICI/MFR stream comes from the commercial sector.
“Does that include all commercial like the Fairmont and the restaurants, Whistler Blackcomb? Is there any way to break that down?” he asked.
Harrison responded that the municipality currently lacks access to accurate disposal data by pickup site. While ICI/MFR contracts with GFL are evenly split, the amount collected from each source is still unknown.
On a per-person basis, Whistler’s landfill disposal rate improved to 288 kilograms per person in 2024, down from 350 kg the year prior, and below the provincial average of 479 kg. However, those figures are adjusted to reflect tourism-driven population increases.
“It is based on our adjusted population equivalent. So it’s closer to 40,000. If you look at the 16,000 [population] number, we are not doing this well,” said Harrison, noting the per-capita waste figure has remained relatively stable despite fluctuating population estimates.
Forsyth pressed further on the feasibility of the 80-per-cent reduction target.
“So, is there a pivot? Is there some amazing technology that will happen?” he asked.
Without significant investments into the plan, and efforts from the community, "it’s unlikely we’re going to meet it,” Harrison replied. “In 2019, and 2020, when this was first created, that was the target that community partners thought was achievable. As we’ve worked through this so far, we have a long way to go.”
Coun. Arthur De Jong asked whether improving waste diversion, currently at 46 per cent, could close the gap.
“If you look at our audit of materials that are still ending up in the landfill that could have been diverted, that could have been composted or recycled, that still doesn’t bring us to the 80 per cent goal,” Harrison said before noting higher diversion would still greatly help reduce Whistler’s waste.
Because diversion alone can’t meet the target, Harrison said the broader system must change.
“We really need to move up the zero-waste hierarchy, and we need people to focus on reducing waste. We need producers to not create so much waste. The whole system kind of needs to change in order to meet that target,” she said.
Whistler’s efforts are guided by two key frameworks: the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan (SWRMP), which aims to eliminate landfills and incinerators through behaviour change; and the RMOW’s Zero Waste Action Plan (ZWAP), which promotes a circular economy and prioritizes reduction and reuse.
From Forsyth’s perspective, the community’s landfill target needs a reality check.
“It’s just so unrealistic. We can’t have an 80-per-cent reduction by 2030, it’s not going to happen," he said. "Let’s rethink our policy. It’s not that we don’t want to pursue it, but ... I think we get more traction if we have realistic, achievable targets.”
De Jong was more nuanced in his feedback.
“Even if we were within 10 per cent of that… a team doesn’t have to win every game to make a championship, but we do need to have our targets, I think, realistic to what is possible.”
Mayor Jack Crompton thanked both councillors for their input and said targets could be reachable through hard work. Council accepted the staff report.
Solid waste bylaw overhauled
At the same meeting, council also gave three readings to Solid Waste Bylaw No. 2469, 2025, which repeals and replaces the 2017 version following years of piecemeal amendments. The overhaul includes updated definitions, enforcement tools, and efforts to bring non-compliant multi-family buildings into the system.
Among the most notable changes is the introduction of a new “Reusable Wood” category, aimed at diverting clean lumber, plywood and pallets from the landfill.
“We are hopeful that this will allow people to reclaim wood for free and keep it out of the waste stream,” said Harrison.
A pilot program at the Whistler Transfer Station will run from mid-July to October. Separated drop-off and pick-up areas will be set up for eligible wood—clean, untreated, and free of fasteners or adhesives. Materials in good condition will be available for free.
To encourage uptake, the tipping fee for reusable wood will be set at $150 per tonne—$50 less than the clean wood rate. Cedar, even if untreated, is excluded because Whistler’s downstream processor won’t accept it, though staff said that restriction could change with community feedback.
Councillors expressed enthusiasm for the program.
“I’m very supportive of the wood cam,” joked Coun. Jeff Murl, referencing the idea of live-streaming the reuse pile so residents don’t miss valuable finds.
Other changes include updated definitions for clean wood, treated wood and gypsum board. Treated wood now covers OSB, fibreboard, painted or glued lumber, and cedar—all of which must be landfilled. Gypsum has been split into two categories: recyclable gypsum and residential gypsum, the latter of which may contain asbestos and must be double-bagged for drop-off.
Council also approved new rules to help older multi-family buildings comply with waste storage rules. Properties built before 1981, many of which lack designated waste rooms, will be eligible for a formal exemption and instead pay a Solid Waste Depot Operations Fee per unit.
“We realized it would be very difficult for many of these properties to build a waste-management room,” said Harrison.
The updated bylaw also clarifies banned materials, refines recyclable definitions, and removes redundant categories such as “bulky items” and “EPR recyclables.” Fines are updated in two related amendment bylaws.
Several councillors praised the updated bylaw for helping move the community toward its zero-waste goals.
“The more creative we are about getting people to use these available resources, the better equipped we’ll be to drive toward zero waste,” Crompton said.
