Tofino-area landfill bans neoprene wetsuits

A landfill serving the Tofino and Ucluelet area on Vancouver Island has banned neoprene wetsuits, making it one of the first sites in Canada to do so over environmental concerns. The AlberniClayoquot Regional District said wetsuits will now be diverted to a nearby recycling and upcycling program run by Surfrider Foundation Canada instead of going to the West Coast Landfill. Surfrider says the change is meant to reduce plastic waste because neoprene does not break down in landfills. The group says it has been working on the issue for years and has already kept more than 10,000 pounds of wetsuits out of B.C. landfills in the past year. Supporters of the move say it could help push the surf industry toward more sustainable materials, including plantbased alternatives such as Yulex.