How can something that’s be done in so many places for so long be so hard?
That’s the question about the upcoming controversial implementation of curbside recycling in Nakusp through an industry stewardship group known as Multi-Material BC.
The Village of Nakusp is supposed to start curbside pickup on May 19, but now a new wrench has been thrown into the plans.
Linda Tynan, the chief administrative officer for the Village of Nakusp, told council last week the depot where recycling will be taken to may be in Castlegar — far outside the 60 kilometre distance that has been contracted for.
“That’s a significant concern to me unless they’re going to be paying us a whole lot of money to do that,” Tynan said at the Mar. 24 meeting. “There will be wages plus significant wear and tear on the truck.”
The village is scheduled to implement curbside recycling using its own garbage truck — the cost of which is to be paid for by MMBC.
In a follow-up interview Tynan clarified the location remains speculation right now, based on what she heard from another community. The location of the depot still needs to be determined, but if it is somewhere far away like Castlegar, it could jeopardize the curbside recycling program.
It wouldn’t only be a matter of compensating the village for the extra costs of transporting the recycling the extra distance, but also of seeing if the village can incorporate the extra driving time into its schedule, said Tynan.
Allen Langdon, the managing director for MMBC, said the location of the depot has yet to be determined.
“If that were an instance, our post-collection processor would need to compensate for anything beyond 60 kilometres,” he said. “As far as I know, no final decision has been made.”
Mayor Karen Hamling said the village may need to make a complaint to the provincial government.
Both Tynan and Langdon said they hope the issue is resolved soon. “We need to know this relatively soon for our planning purposes,” said Tynan.
