West Kelowna has passed, for now, on joining a regional food waste collection program.
It’s the second community, following in Kelowna’s footsteps, to reject the Regional District Central Okanagan (RDCO) project, mostly due to the expense.
The cost would be approximately $63 per year for a single-family household. Without Kelowna's participation that amount rises to more than $150.
“They do play a big role in helping fund services through the regional district,” Councillor Stephen Johnston pointed out. “For me at this time, this is not an expense in good conscience I can put forward to our residents.”
While 73 per cent of Central Okanagan residents surveyed liked the idea, without Kelowna on board, less than 13 per cent would be willing to take part. About 50 per cent of residents supported paying for the program.
Council liked the program's concept, but Coun. Rick de Jong echoed Johnston’s cost concerns.
“Particularly with this economy that we’re wresting with, costs matter,” de Jong noted. “We need to be prudent with our monies.”
The RDCO’s plan involves letting residents toss food waste into green bins, expanding yard waste pickup to weekly year-round, and reducing garbage collection to every other week.
A new transfer station would also be needed—estimated at $12 million.
Mayor Gord Milsom said West Kelowna may consider joining the program in the future.
“But we can’t be there on our own,” he said. “With Kelowna not participating, the $150 plus is something we can’t ask our residents to pay. It’s only going to work if we all come together as a region.”
Kelowna city staff noted significant uncertainties with the program including the location of a new transfer station, design, technical features, and space requirements.
“These factors—combined with cost—make this the wrong time to proceed,” a staff report stated.
The RDCO will be pitching its food waste collection program to other Central Okanagan communities.
