Traditional waste disposal methods are being trashed again.
Director Kevin Acton expressed concerns Wednesday after the Regional District of North Okanagan board approved funds for infrastructure works at a landfill and cleaning up a former landfill.
“I find it frustrating that we can’t find other ways to deal with our garbage,” he said.
It’s been proposed that $1.9 million in federal gas tax revenue go to gas control at the Greater Vernon landfill while $1.8 million go to a cap at the former Pottery Road dump.
Acton raised similar concerns in August when a majority of the board decided not to entertain a private sector incinerator proposal for Spallumcheen.
On Wednesday, Acton suggested the regional district is being shortsighted when it comes to waste reduction and taxpayers’ funds.
“We’re not necessarily just talking about incineration but other options in general,” he said.
“There is still a lot of waste going to the landfill that shouldn’t be. The amount of money going into the operation of landfills is ridiculous. We should be investigating better ways to deal with it.”
Other directors have stated that considerable resources have been directed towards landfills and recycling and initiatives such as incineration would undermine those activities.
