The regional district Environment and Infrastructure Committee approved some changes to the Curbside Garbage and Recycling Services program at the April 5 meeting of the committee.
The main changes dealt with by the committee involved yard waste. The curbside program will phase out yard waste collection in plastic bags and increase or decrease yard waste pick up in certain areas.
Rural Oliver Director Allan Patton asked if kitchen waste could be collected economically in “islands,” to which Solid Waste Facilities Coordinator Don Hamilton replied that it was “not currently worth looking at.”
It was also asked if a grace period would apply to plastic bags with yard waste after July 1. Hamilton answered that he was hoping to initiate the program early, noting that Penticton allowed some initial contamination when they stopped allowing plastic bags to be used.
The recommended service levels for the one year period from July of 2012 to June 2013 are as follows:
For all rural service areas and the Village of Keremeos:
– two containers (bags or cans) garbage collected every week
– every other week unlimited collection of recycling
– once per year large item collection of two items
– no collection of yard waste in plastic bags starting in July 2012
There is no change to existing garbage, recycling or large item collections. The banning of plastic bags for yard waste collection would commence in July 2012. This allows for the collection of all yard and garden materials already placed in clear plastic bags. For Electoral Areas “D”, “E”, “F” and the Village of Keremeos
– every other week unlimited collection of yard and garden waste from March until November starting July 2012 to June 2013
By increasing the collection frequency from nine times per year to 19, the RDOS hopes to provide better service and reduce organics entering the landfill via garbage bags. This will also allow for efficient use of reusable containers for yard waste, such as well marked garbage cans.
For Electoral Areas “A”, “B”, “C”, and “G”:
– Six yard waste collection events from July 2012 to June 2013
Historically these areas generate a minimal amount of yard waste. Increased collections from six per year to nine per year did not noticeably increase the amount of yard waste collected. A portion of the money saved from reducing the number of collections will go towards more frequent advertising before yard waste collection events in these areas.
The RDOS projects user fees for Keremeos to be $135 dollars per year.
Electoral areas are expected to pay the following fees:
Area “B” – $165 per year.
Area “D” – $130 to $160 per year.
Area “G” – $170 per year.
All necessary amendments to the fees and charges bylaw will be brought forward at the April 19 board meeting.
