Journalism honour Former Bulletin editor earns prestigious award. PAGE 19 Under a spell Ballerina performs first lead role in Svengali at the Port. PAGE B1 Swinging for fences Mariners third baseman finds home run stroke. PAGE 7
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THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012
VOL. 23, NO. 152
Rezoning sparks recycling ruckus
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Lantzville digs in new direction on urban farms
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NON-PROFIT SAYS competition would be uneven playing field.
BY RACHEL STERN THE NEWS BULLETIN
BY RACHEL STERN THE NEWS BULLETIN
T h e N a n a i m o Re cycl i n g Exchange is worried a facility looking to expand next door could create competition that negatively affects its operation. The non-profit started a petition to protest the proposed rezoning of 2375 Hayes Rd., across the street from the recycling exchange. Michael Schellinck, executive director, questions why another facility is needed right next door to a recycling facility, when there aren’t any in the north or south ends of Nanaimo. “At the end of the day, what you are going to do is take away from a community-based organization,” said Schellinck, adding that for the past 25 years, the NRE has worked to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill, and also runs education and outreach programs. The rezoning applicant says the change, which would permit expansion and increase the company’s ability to take in more products, would be an improvement for the city. “There should be no big worries for anyone,” said Paul Shorting, general manager of Regional Recycling Nanaimo (formerly the Nanaimo Bottle Depot). “At the end of the day, it’s convenience. It’s great for the public; where else can you go to one street and drop off your products?” Shorting said the company has
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Michael Schellinck, Nanaimo Recycling Exchange executive director, tosses the remains of a discarded barbecue into a scrap metal dumpster. Scrap metal and cardboard are primary revenue generators for the facility, but Schellinck says he worries a competing centre that moved in across the street and has applied to the city to accept the waste materials, could cut into the non-profit’s revenue stream.
operated in Nanaimo for about 15 years and was previously located on Mostar Road, taking the same products it seeks to at the new location. Issues with traffic congestion and other concerns prompted the company to find a more suitable home. “We didn’t just show up – we’ve been here for 15 years and have been doing the same thing. There is lots of work for the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange and lots of work for us,” said Shorting. But Schellinck says the recycling exchange can’t fully com-
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pete, because there are only three bottle depot licenses issued for the central Island, and Regional Recycling Nanaimo holds them. Rezoning would allow Regional Recycling Nanaimo, which is open for bottle returns, to take products such as scrap metal, electronics and small appliances, and waste paper – all revenue generators for the recycling exchange. And without that revenue, the ability to provide free environmental programs in the community and schools could be in jeop-
ardy, Schellinck said. He worries that if the exchange starts receiving less of the revenue-generating materials, it might not be able to take in other items that have no value. “At our facility we take over 50 different classes of materials, not all of them make money, a lot of them don’t make any money,” said Schellinck. “There are a few that do make us money and it’s those few that go towards supporting us taking materials that have absolutely no value.” See ‘ADVISORY’ ‘ /4
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A new bylaw intended to limit the transportation of soil is the latest attempt to address urban agriculture issues in Lantzville. Council isn’t moving forward with the original proposed urban agriculture bylaw. Lantzville Mayor Jack de Jong said after receiving legal advice on the proposed urban agriculture bylaw, council realized it c ove re d t o o many aspects and was trying to regulate items that were already covered by other jurisdictions, such as the provincial DE JONG agriculture ministry. “Basically we’ve been told it’s too complicated and some of the items are not enforceable,” said de Jong. “We tried to tackle too much in one bite as a small community. We’re going to take it a piece at a time to deal with some of the issues.” The original bylaw will be used as a reference as council takes pieces of it to address specific issues. After discussion and public input, council realized the objections around urban agriculture don’t revolve around the growing and selling of food, but more around the transportation of manure, de Jong said. ◆ See ‘FUAL’ /4
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