Recycling Compressed Gas Cylinders and “Whipping Cream Chargers”

Earlier this year, I posted about large nitrous oxide cylinders entering the waste stream in our region in significant quantities. While nitrous oxide is used for food processing and auto racing, it is also known as laughing gas and provides a sense of calm and euphoria when inhaled. These cylinders have caused explosions at the Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy facility, damaging equipment and jeopardizing worker safety.

Post Combustion Nitrous Oxide Cylinders. Select the image to enlarge.

As a result, the Metro Vancouver Regional District provides free recycling for all single-use valved cylinders (not just nitrous oxide), whether gas-filled or empty, at its recycling and waste facilities.

As I posted, the Regional District would like to see the federal government prohibit the import and sale of large single-use valved nitrous oxide cylinders.

As you may know, most of the recycling programs in BC are funded by industry through the BC Extended Producer Responsibility program. For example, curbside recycling for detached homes and non-strata townhomes in Langley City is managed by Recycle BC.

Currently in BC, you can recycle empty aerosol spray containers used for cosmetic/beauty, health products, food, afresheners, and cleaning. An example would be shaving cream. The provincial government is expanding the Extended Producer Responsibility program to include more types of aerosol spray containers, small propane cylinders, and spray foam canisters. The Metro Vancouver Regional District would like to see nitrous oxide cylinders added to this expanded program.

Right now, it costs the regional district about $60 to recycle a nitrous oxide cylinder. Based on a quick Internet search, the cost of recycling is about the same as the price of a new, filled, larger-sized nitrous oxide cylinder.

I’m hoping that the province will add nitrous oxide cylinders to an expanded Extended Producer Responsibility program.

92% of Metro Vancouver Regional District Board Support Single Sewer Area Charge

One of the strengths of our region is that we work well together and share resources where it makes sense. For example, we all pay the same regional tax rates and fees for transit, water, solid waste, and parks. The only area where we pay different rates is for sewer; it is based on where your liquid waste is processed. This all stemmed from a decision in the mid-1990s about how to pay for a significant project to improve wastewater treatment at the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment, which serves most of Metro Vancouver by area.

Because of our geography and history, the North Shore, half of Lulu Island (Richmond), and most of the City of Vancouver each have their own wastewater treatment facility.

Map of Metro Vancouver Sewerage Areas. Select the map to enlarge.

We all know the story of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment plant. Unfortunately, because of how we fund sewage services in our region, North Shore residents and businesses got stuck with a massive increase in sewer fees through no fault of their own.

This is the breakdown of typical household charges for regional sewer service in 2026.

Fraser Sewerage Area: $795
Lulu Island Sewerage Area: $825
North Shore Sewerage Area: $1,315
Vancouver Sewerage Area: $1,024

Langley City is in the Fraser Sewerage Area. All the sewage treatment plants and pipes in our region need upgrades to keep them in a state of good repair and meet modern wastewater treatment standards. Given that treatment plants aren’t based on population but on geography, the experience of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment plant costs distribution, and future sewage projects, 92% of the current Metro Vancouver Directors want to switch to a single sewage area. This would help spread the cost of these necessary sewage upgrades across all people and businesses in our region. It is a fairer approach and will reduce future spikes in sewage rate increases. While the Fraser Sewage Area currently has the lowest rate, it also has major sewer projects planned in the coming years.

I’m pleased to see that most elected people are working together for the benefit of all people in Metro Vancouver, and I look forward to seeing one sewerage area.

A Quick Tour of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Guideway Segment Factory

Over 4,400 segments are required to build the guideway for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension to Langley City. Last week, I got a chance to tour where these segments are made.

Council Approves Tenders Worth $6.8 million for Road Repaving and New Multiuse Paths

On December 15, 2025, Council approved the 2026 Langley City Budget, which included funding for road repaving and repairs. It also included funding for improvements along the Langley City-controlled portion of the Langley Bypass. (The Langley Bypass between the Surrey border and Glover Road is the responsibility of the provincial government.)

On Monday, Council approved tenders for repaving the following sections of road:

• 198 Street - from 54A Avenue to 56 Avenue
• 208 Street - from Newlands Drive to 48 Avenue
• Fraser Highway - from 207 Street to 208 Street
• Brydon Crescent and 199A Street
• Logan Avenue - from 200th Street to 203rd Street
• 204 Street - from Logan Avenue to the Overpass (including repairing the dip)

These projects span two tenders with Amrize Canada Inc. for $1,179,763.00 and Grandview Blacktop Ltd. for $584,016.93 (both excluding GST). The projects include a $180,000 contingency, as our road network is old; even with the best planning, there can be surprises. R.F. Binnie and Associates Ltd. will provide construction support services for $23,330 (excluding GST).

56th Avenue between 200th Street and 203rd Street was repaved in 2024.

TransLink, through both its per capita and competitive grant programs, provides funding to municipalities to maintain the major road network and to build sidewalks and separate bike lanes on municipal roads. TransLink does not provide funding to repave or expand roads outside of the major road network. The major road network in Langley City includes all of 200th Street, the City-controlled section of the Langley Bypass, some sections of Fraser Highway, and 203rd/204th Street between Fraser Highway and the Township. If TransLink funds a road expansion program on the major road network, it must include sidewalks and separated bike lanes.

Over the last several years, TransLink has been providing funding to support the renewal of the City-controlled section of the Langley Bypass. This renewal will include enhancements for pedestrian safety, particularly for students and others travelling to and from Langley Secondary School, traffic signal upgrades to improve intersection efficenicy, repaving the Langley Bypass between Fraser Highway and 57th Avenue, repaving the City-part of 56th Avenue between the Langley Bypass and Township borders (the north side of 56th Avenue is actually in the Township too), and new multi-use paths on both sides of the Langley Bypass between Fraser Highway and 56th Avenue, and a new multiuse path to Twin Rinks. Except for the traffic signal upgrades, not a nickel of Langley City property tax is paying for this project.

Council approved the tender for this project to BA Blacktop Infrastructure Inc. for $5,049,262.73 (excluding GST). R.F. Binnie and Associates Ltd. will provide construction support services for $127,070 (excluding GST). There is also a $505,000 contingency.

In the past, there was a delay of up to one year between Council's approval of the budget for road repaving projects and their actual implementation. This delay occurred because you can only repave roads during certain parts of the year, and Council used to approve the budget in late winter/early spring, which didn’t leave enough time to issue tenders for the summer paving window. Because Council moved the budget approval process earlier, starting in this current budget, we can now complete repaving projects in their approved budget year.

Construction for all these projects will start in August.