Celebrating 30 Years of Coast Waste Management Association

Coast Waste Management Association (CWMA) began in 1995 as a collaborative effort between the Capital Regional District (CRD), the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), and the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) to discuss and find solutions for managing solid waste, particularly in the unique coastal environment of British Columbia.

Today, CWMA has grown to be a highly regarded membership association, serving a network of thousands of industry professionals. It continues to foster environmental leadership through a variety of forums, including ongoing working groups, roundtables, a resource library, and a well-established annual conference. 

As a proud CWMA Heritage Preservation Partner at its upcoming Annual Conference in Victoria, we had the pleasure of speaking with four community members who have had a front-row seat to the progress CWMA has made and where it is heading.

Carey McIver, a Founder and former Board Chair, is a solid waste management specialist with over 30 years of experience. As the former Manager of Solid Waste for the RDN, she implemented an award-winning zero-waste program and has since started her own consulting firm.

Peter Grant, the longest-sitting board member with CWMA, is the Recycling Depot Program Manager of Salt Spring Island Community Services and has been since the early ’90s. Born in Norway and raised in Montréal, Peter has a storied career which spans oil and gas and hospitality.  

Tera Grady is the Manager of Solid Waste for the Cariboo Regional District. Additionally, Tera is Co-Chair for the BC Product Stewardship Council, sits on advisory committees for two stewardship agencies, and works with IZWTAG and Recycle BC to help facilitate recycling for First Nation communities.

Sheila Molloy is an independent contractor with her current key role as Executive Director of the Coast Waste Management Association. Formerly a partner in a venture team and entrepreneur with three businesses under her belt, Sheila holds many educational and professional credentials.

What inspired the creation of CWMA back in 1995, and what was the association’s original vision?

Carey McIver (CM): The mayor of Nanaimo at the time, the late Joy Leach, directed the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities (AVIM) to set up a task force to establish cooperative marketing of recyclables on Vancouver Island. I was the staff person leading the task force. While we didn’t establish cooperative marketing, we did create CWMA as a vehicle for networking, education, and information sharing.

Peter Grant (PG): Most of us involved with CWMA were trying to accept and market materials that had a changing value in the marketplace. The goal posts kept moving. Before the BC Recycling Regulation came into effect in late 2004, prices and markets were everywhere (and at times nowhere). When it did take effect, we also saw it would be many years before the various [extended producer responsibility programs] would actually be up and running.

In those early years, what was the biggest waste management challenge you were focused on solving?

CM: In the ‘90s, the biggest waste management challenge was the introduction of residential curbside recycling, as well as commercial recycling by way of disposal bans on readily recyclable materials such as cardboard and office paper.

Over the past three decades, what milestone or turning point has stood out most to you?

CM: For me, the biggest milestone was when the RDN achieved a diversion rate of 70% and a disposal rate of 300 kilograms per capita. This achievement set an example for other mid-size local governments.

PM: That would be the Packaging and Printed Paper (PPP) Legislation, and a few years later, its implementation. This brought so much of what was being recycled under extended producer responsibility.

Tera Grady (TG): The rocket ship that took off during COVID-19 that took us all on a trip to virtual: working groups, info sessions, conferences, and webinars!

Sheila Molloy (SM): I think the pandemic was a turning point, expanding our role as a connector and information hub. The CWMA’s success has always been rooted in its ability to serve as a neutral and welcoming association for all sectors of the waste management industry. Having to pivot to all-virtual forums opened the doors for greater connections, which have been instrumental in creating new collaborations, learning, and the creation of best practices for managing and reducing waste in British Columbia. 

How has CWMA’s mission evolved to address today’s environmental and waste challenges?

PG: We started out trying to have an association that could find ways to market materials together to get optimum results. Then, over the years, it became more focused on networking and finding best practices, which is still our focus today.

Everyone (E): Overall, we have expanded our focus from traditional waste management to a comprehensive approach that prioritizes waste reduction, addresses new challenges, and actively integrates environmental and social values. We now serve as a key resource and catalyst for change, helping our members and the broader community navigate and solve the complex waste challenges of the 21st century.

With over 70 events and meetings annually, it’s clear CWMA is very active. Which recent initiatives or gatherings are you most proud of?

E: Every event we organize matters—whether it’s an intimate working group of 10 or a dynamic roundtable bringing together 140 people to share knowledge and learn from one another. The History of EPR event, however, held special significance. It marked the beginning of our vital work to document and preserve our collective story. In a rapidly growing sector where retirements and constant movement are inevitable, we risk losing the rich history of our achievements and hard-won lessons. Taking time to archive our shared journey is essential for honouring our past and guiding our future.

How do you approach balancing industry priorities with environmental responsibility?

E: The balance can be tough, given that we need to foster a collaborative environment within a diverse industry. Our members—ranging from businesses to government organizations and individuals—all have different approaches and priorities when it comes to environmental issues. 

Our approach is to act as a translator and convener. We aim to understand each member’s core focus and environmental values, bringing everyone to the table with mutual respect. While we don’t expect everyone to agree, our goal is to help bridge these perspectives and facilitate a shared understanding.

As an organization, we also work to lead by example. We are committed to thoughtful environmental practices in all we do, from implementing food waste reduction at our events to ensuring every event is fully accessible to all participants.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the most pressing waste management challenge(s) in the next decade?

CM: We still haven’t managed to change our consumer culture. It will also be more difficult to get beyond 70% diversion.

TG: Expansion of extended producer responsibility, management of demolition waste, asbestos abatement related to natural disasters.

E: It boils down to behaviour change and consumption, construction and demolition waste, and disaster debris management. Optimistically, the solutions exist for most of these challenges, but they require coordination between technology development, policy frameworks, and community engagement. This requires collaboration, cooperation, and relevant information for decision makers in our industry and with others. 

What role do you hope CWMA will play in shaping the future of waste management in BC and beyond?

TG: Continuing to provide relevant webinars and bringing waste managers together to network and learn.

E: We want to keep fostering a vibrant, action-oriented, problem-solving community by building forums and having resources at everyone’s fingertips. We also want to archive the history and work we are all doing to ensure it lives on as a point of comparison and a reflection of our successes.

When CWMA reaches its 40th anniversary, what accomplishments would you most like to be celebrating?

E: That we are still a leading industry resource for developing best practices in waste management and reduction.