Recycling of construction waste is a capital region priority
The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region has appealed to the provincial government to promote recycling of construction, renovation and demolition waste, in line with the MHCA’s push for a broad provincial policy framework incorporating this as a priority.
“The WMR is doing valuable work to coordinate collaboration among capital region governments for planning and development, and a broad recycling policy for construction and demolition waste deserves to be a regional priority,” said MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “We are appealing to the provincial government to support this, through adopting a recycling policy framework that reflects the need to recover and reuse construction and demolition waste.”
The WMR sent a letter on April 20 to the deputy minister of Conservation and Climate, asking a meeting to discuss the intent of WMR and MHCA to establish a working group, drawing representation from business, industry, government and environmental organizations, to explore best practices, policy and potential specifications for construction, renovation and demolition waste materials.
“CRD waste represents 20-30% of the total waste generated annually in Manitoba and the second largest component of the waste stream in province,” the letter from WMR Executive Director Colleen Sklar notes. “Further, many of these materials contribute to our GHG emissions through manufacturing processes and transportation, making their diversion an important component to a GHG reduction strategy.”
The WMR letter follows a similar appeal the MHCA sent to Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard in early March, seeking provincial engagement in advancing the recycling of construction and demolition waste, including concrete aggregates and asphalt materials.
“Much of this material can and, in numerous jurisdictions in Canada and other countries, recycled by policy or regulation for reuse, recognizing the need to reduce our environmental and carbon footprint on natural resources,” Lorenc said. “We can do so much more in Manitoba, and we want to be part of that solution, reducing the generation of greenhouse gas emissions in the process.”
