The West Coast Landfill, situated between the well-liked surfing hubs of Tofino and Ucluelet on the western shore of Vancouver Island, has become one of the initial sites in the nation to prohibit neoprene wetsuits.
Announced in a press release on Thursday by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), the entity that owns and manages the landfill, a board resolution on September 23 added wetsuits to the list of banned waste materials. Going forward, neoprene wetsuits will be channeled for recycling at the Ocean Plastic Depot conveniently located at the landfill, where they will be directed to an upcycling initiative overseen by Surfrider Foundation Canada.
ACRD board chair Jon Jack emphasized, “By establishing a dedicated recycling route for neoprene, we are decreasing waste, fostering local creativity, and encouraging residents to adopt more eco-friendly practices, transforming waste into a valuable resource.”
Surfrider, a Victoria-based non-profit organization committed to ocean conservation, has been advocating for this ban since 2016, according to spokesperson Lilly Woodbury. Woodbury highlighted that neoprene wetsuits, composed of a non-biodegradable synthetic plastic derivative, pose a significant challenge in waste management. Keeping wetsuits out of landfills plays a crucial role in the broader strategy to reduce plastic pollution.
Furthermore, Woodbury mentioned that Surfrider has been running a program named “ReSurf” for more than ten years, dedicated to gathering old and retired wetsuits for recycling and upcycling. She emphasized the importance of establishing operational systems, raising awareness among businesses, and securing their participation to ensure a successful transition towards sustainable practices.
Looking ahead, Woodbury expressed her ambition to steer companies away from using neoprene entirely. Notably, she applauded gear manufacturers like Patagonia for transitioning to Yulex, a plant-based natural rubber alternative that offers a more environmentally friendly choice. Yulex not only boasts a reduced carbon footprint but also eliminates the use of chemicals like chloroprene found in traditional wetsuits.
Woodbury stressed the urgency for the industry to shift away from synthetic materials in alignment with Surfrider’s plastic reduction mission. She proudly shared that in the past year alone, the ReSurf initiative has prevented over 10,000 pounds of wetsuits from ending up in British Columbia landfills.