The Regional District of Nanaimo is set to increase tipping fees at both its solid waste management facilities starting in July.
The extra funds will assist the operations of the regional landfill and the Church Road transfer station, which both rely on tipping fee revenues.
For municipal solid waste, the base tipping fees will go up to $130 from $125 per tonne; the fee has not gone up since 2013. The new rates are comparable to other neighbouring regional districts, which are $130 to $140 per tonne.
A new RDN Tipping Fee and Solid Waste Disposal Regulation Bylaw has been created to replace the current bylaw that establishes tipping fees and outlines the conditions of use at the two waste management facilities. Solid waste planner Meghan Ebueza explained to the RDN solid waste management select committee the new bylaw would provide clearer definitions, and revises tipping fees and penalties. The new bylaw will be presented to the RDN board for approval.
Based on current projections, the fee increase will add approximately $400,000 annually to tipping fee revenue. By introducing the increase in July 2019, revenues will go up $200,000 increasing the forecast contribution to reserves from $1.5 million to $1.7 million.
The reserve is geared towards funding future facility capital expenditures including major equipment purchases, expansion of the landfill gas system and site closure.
As well, the 2019 budget includes a $200,000 transfer to the landfill post-closure reserve which raise the total reserve value to approximately $2,280,000.
The landfill currently has 24 years of remaining site life and an estimated post-closure cost liability of about $12,000,000.
The RDN board adopted a new Solid Waste Management plan in 2018 that aims for a diversion rate of 90 per cent over the next 10 years. It is currently waiting for the B.C. Ministry of Environment’s stamp of approval.
