West Âé¶čAV has passed, for now, on joining a regional food waste collection program.
Itâs the second community, following in Âé¶čAVâs 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 Âé¶čAV's participation that amount rises to more than $150.
âThey do play a big role in helping fund services through the regional district,â Councillor Stephen Johnston pointed out. âFor me at this time, this is not an expense in good conscience I can put forward to our residents.â
While 73 per cent of Central Okanagan residents surveyed liked the idea, without Âé¶čAV 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 Johnstonâs cost concerns.
âParticularly with this economy that weâre wresting with, costs matter,â de Jong noted. âWe need to be prudent with our monies.â
The RDCOâs 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 neededâestimated at $12 million.
Mayor Gord Milsom said West Âé¶čAV may consider joining the program in the future.
âBut we canât be there on our own,â he said. âWith Âé¶čAV not participating, the $150 plus is something we canât ask our residents to pay. Itâs only going to work if we all come together as a region.â
Âé¶čAV city staff noted significant uncertainties with the program including the location of a new transfer station, design, technical features, and space requirements.
âThese factorsâcombined with costâmake this the wrong time to proceed,â a staff report stated.
The RDCO will be pitching its food waste collection program to other Central Okanagan communities.
