Blue bag recycling will continue in Spallumcheen.
Township council voted unanimously to a two-year contract extension with Tip-It Waste Solutions, expiring May 16, 2017.
“The public seems to be appreciative of the continued use of blue bags as opposed to the blue bins that MMBC (Multi-Material B.C.) requires,” said township chief financial officer Brian Freeman-Marsh in a report to council.
“The township has not received any negative feedback about the current blue bag recycling program.”
The fee for the program in 2014 was $39.05 and was included on residents’ property tax notices.
The current curbside program was scheduled to expire on May 16, and it was anticipated that Spallumcheen would be included in the service provided by MMBC, though the township states MMBC has not issued a request for proposals for expanded services.
Tip-It Waste Solutions collects blue bag recycling curbside in the township and takes it to the Vernon residential drop-off facility.
The township pays tipping fees to the Regional District of North Okanagan for the service.
Tip-It proposed they could continue to provide the service for $6,000 a month which would include collection and disposal of recycled material.
The new deal exceeds a 7.5 month term directed by council.
“Since the agreement contains a 90-day termination clause, it seemed prudent to fix the pricing of this service over a longer term,” Freeman-Marsh told council.
The 2015 budgeted amount is $73,300 which includes $1,300 for advertising, printing and postage.
The deal also includes an option for three, one-year extensions subject to a mutually agreeable rate.
