Report on the Development of the Town of Sylvan Lake’s Solid Waste Master Plan

Introduction: Aligning Waste Management with Sustainable Development

The Town of Sylvan Lake has initiated a public consultation process to inform the creation of a new Solid Waste Master Plan. This strategic document will provide a comprehensive framework for the community’s short, medium, and long-term waste management goals. The plan is being developed to align with key principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), by ensuring waste is managed in an environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially responsible manner.

Strategic Objectives of the Master Plan

The Master Plan will guide municipal decision-making on several critical operational and strategic fronts. The primary objectives are designed to enhance sustainability and community well-being:

• Enhance Waste Reduction and Diversion: To develop strategies that substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse, directly contributing to SDG 12.5.
• Optimize Collection Logistics: To determine efficient and sustainable schedules for garbage and recycling collection, minimizing the environmental footprint and operational costs, in line with SDG 11.6 (reducing the environmental impact of cities).
• Plan for Sustainable Growth: To create a scalable waste management infrastructure that can accommodate future population growth without compromising environmental standards or service quality, supporting the long-term vision of SDG 11.
• Ensure Fiscal and Environmental Responsibility: To implement cost-effective waste management logistics that balance economic prudence with the protection of public health and local ecosystems, including water and land resources (SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 14, SDG 15).

Public Consultation Process

Phase 1: Initial Public Feedback

The initial phase of public engagement is designed to gather feedback from residents on current solid waste service levels. This input is critical for ensuring the Master Plan reflects community priorities and effectively integrates local perspectives into its framework. The Town has retained the services of GHD Canada to facilitate the consultation process, including hosting open houses, managing an online survey, and ultimately drafting the plan.

Opportunities for Public Participation

Residents are invited to contribute through the following channels:

1. Public Open House (Initial Feedback): An in-person session will be held to discuss current services and future needs.
   • Date: July 31
   • Time: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
   • Location: NexSource Centre
2. Online Survey: For those unable to attend the open house, an online survey is available to provide feedback.
   • Deadline: August 15, 5:00 PM
   • Access: The survey can be completed online.
3. Public Open House (Draft Plan Presentation): A second open house will be scheduled at a future date (TBD) to present the draft Solid Waste Master Plan for public review and comment before its finalization.

The findings from this initial consultation phase will be instrumental in shaping the draft plan, which is scheduled for presentation to the Town Council in late 2025.

Commitment to Global Sustainability Goals

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The development and implementation of the Solid Waste Master Plan represent a direct local action in support of global sustainability targets. The plan will specifically address the following SDGs:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By improving municipal waste management, the plan aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of Sylvan Lake.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The plan will promote sustainable practices by focusing on waste reduction, recycling, and reuse, moving the community towards a more circular economy.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Modern waste management strategies, such as improved landfill operations and increased recycling, can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• SDG 14 & 15 (Life Below Water & Life on Land): By ensuring the proper disposal and containment of waste, the plan helps prevent pollution of local water bodies and terrestrial ecosystems.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article discusses the Town of Sylvan Lake’s initiative to create a “Solid Waste Master Plan.” This plan is fundamental to municipal services and directly contributes to making the community more sustainable by managing waste effectively, which is a core component of urban infrastructure and environmental health. The plan explicitly aims to manage logistics for future population growth, ensuring the city remains sustainable as it expands.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The plan focuses on managing “solid waste (garbage and recycling).” By developing a strategy for recycling, the town is addressing the need to reduce waste generation and promote sustainable practices. This aligns with SDG 12’s goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, particularly by managing the end-of-life of products through recycling.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article highlights the town’s process for developing the master plan, which involves significant public consultation. It mentions an “open house” and an “online survey” to “gather the public’s feedback.” This commitment to inclusive and participatory decision-making is a key aspect of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, as promoted by SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The entire article is centered on the creation of a “Solid Waste Master Plan” for Sylvan Lake, which is a direct action to improve municipal waste management and thereby reduce the city’s environmental impact.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” The article states that the master plan will guide the town’s management of “garbage and recycling.” Developing a formal plan for recycling is a foundational step towards substantially reducing overall waste generation by diverting materials from landfills.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The town’s process, which includes hiring a consultant to “create an online survey” and “host the open houses,” is a clear mechanism to ensure public participation. The article explicitly invites residents to “Have your say” and uses this feedback to develop the master plan, demonstrating a commitment to participatory decision-making.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator for Target 11.6

• Implied Indicator 11.6.1: “Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities.” The article implies this indicator by discussing the creation of a comprehensive “Solid Waste Master Plan.” This plan will guide decisions on “how often garbage and recycling is picked up” and “how we will manage the logistics of waste management,” which are essential components for tracking the proportion of waste being formally collected and managed.

Indicator for Target 12.5

• Implied Indicator 12.5.1: “National recycling rate, tons of material recycled.” While the article doesn’t state a current recycling rate, the focus on creating a plan for “garbage and recycling” management implies that a key metric for the plan’s success will be the amount of material recycled. The plan will establish the framework needed to collect data on recycling volumes, which is necessary to measure this indicator at the municipal level.

Indicator for Target 16.7

• Implied Indicator based on Target 16.7: The process of public consultation itself. The article details specific actions taken to ensure participatory decision-making, such as holding an “open house” on July 31 and providing an “online survey” available until August 15. The implementation and public uptake of these engagement tools serve as a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator of progress toward making the decision-making process more inclusive and participatory.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: centralalbertaonline.com