The Elphinstone Community Association’s (ECA) June meeting was well attended and Robyn Cooper, Manager of Solid Waste Services for the SCRD, was on hand to present current services and future plans. There were plenty of questions, and what was to be a 20-minute presentation continued much longer, well-handled by Robyn.
With the topic of plastics prominent in the news, waste is of vital concern. Although the Sunshine Coast continues to divert about 56 per cent of its waste, as the population grows, so does our waste. There is only one active landfill, which is in Sechelt, due to be closed in 2025 at the current rate. With an organics ban planned for 2020, and if people reduce, reuse and recycle more, it could last longer.
The plan to pick up household garbage every second week won’t affect my household (and others too, I imagine). We put out garbage only once every two or three months, since composting and using the Gibsons Recycling Depot deals with most waste. We avoid purchases that involve an inordinate amount of packaging and try to consider the long-term consequences before buying. I often wonder what the garbage collectors make of us – perhaps they think we have another residence as well (we don’t). With a little planning, it’s easy to cut down, and in fact we must, especially plastics. Did you know there is already more plastic than plankton in the ocean? Recognizing this growing problem, some communities are banning single use plastic bags. A growing number of us take our own bags when shopping but it’s surprising how many still don’t. It’s a matter of planning ahead. That said, the Gibsons Recycling Depot is a very busy place indeed, and every time I go, the lot is full of folks dutifully recycling what they can. Usually you meet someone you know, too!
In other news, Nara Benchley reported that Area Planning Commissions are meeting with SCRD officials to update Bylaw 310 dealing with zoning. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this.
Sharon Danroth, who lives on what was once the Hough Farm, writes that the Houghs bought it from the original settlers, the Kullanders, who grew raspberries for the cannery on Henry Road, known then as Cannery Road (a nod to Steinbeck – ha!). Kullander Creek, which drained through Gospel Rock, was named after them.
“Now it shows up on maps as Seaward Creek ... what happened? The Kullander family were very involved with early pioneer life in Elphinstone and later built a house on the beach near what is now the Marina,” Sharon told me.
Stay tuned next week – we’ll be talking farms! Contact me at [email protected] with your news.
