The Malahat Nation has partnered with the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) to launch curbside recycling collection in the First Nation.
The Malahat Nation first reached out to the CVRD about joining its existing residential curbside collection service back in 2021.
Since then, the two groups, alongside Recycle BC and Indigenous Services Canada, have been working together to join the recycling program under a Municipal Type Service Agreement.
“The extension of this regional service to our neighbours in the Malahat Nation is a win for the Cowichan region as a whole,” said CVRD board chair Aaron Stone in a release Monday.
“Expanding service to Malahat provides a greater opportunity to divert regional waste from landfills, and enables cost savings for both Malahat and existing curbside collection
customers in the Cowichan region,” he said.
Stone says the CVRD is interested in working with the Malahat Nation on other services, including curbside compost and garbage pickup for households.
The new curbside recycling pickup service in the Malahat Nation launched on Monday, and serves 50 households.
“This new agreement represents a significant step towards future partnerships with the regional district, and is a service we know our members will appreciate to contribute to lessened amounts of waste going to landfills,” said Malahat Nation councillor Steve Henry in a statement Monday.
“Our work with the CVRD in recent years has been extremely productive in building relationships and exploring opportunities for joint services, and we look forward to joining this service that benefits all residents of the region.”
RELATED: Roadside garbage pick up coming to First Nations near Tofino this fall
Adam Chan
