West 琉璃神社 council has concerns about a curbside food waste collection program proposed by the Regional District Central Okanagan (RDCO).
While supportive of the program, presented by RDCO Supervisor of Solid Waste Services Cythnia Coates at council's Sept. 10 meeting, some councillors took issue with plans to switch garbage collection from once a week to twice a month.
Coun. Garret Millsap said he would like to see statistics from municipalities with a similar program on potential illegal dumping.
鈥淏ecause we have a major illegal dumping program and I see us going to two weeks compounding the problem.鈥�
The RDCO program would see food and yard waste co-mingled in residential green bins and collected weekly.
Coun. Jason Friesen was in favour of the proposed option.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have open food waste for crows, open food waste for bears it鈥檚 still going to be in a bin,鈥� he added.
Other options included additional carts for food waste only and kitchen countertop composters.
鈥淭o me, technology is the solution rather than continuing to put waste in the landfill,鈥� Millsap said.
He suggested the RDCO could provide an incentive program for residents to purchase the devices.
Coates told council that weekly garbage pickup, which contains food waste, is responsible for 30 per cent methane gas released into the atmosphere. Approximately 70 per cent of landfill gas is collected and used as a renewable resource, she added.
An RDCO survey found that 73 per cent of Central Okanagan residents support a food waste curbside collection food program and 70 per cent support moving to a weekly organics collection and biweekly garbage collection.
Mayor Gord Milsom noted solutions were also needed for multi-family developments.
鈥淏ecause that鈥檚 where the majority of our future development will be,鈥� he said
Coates said it is being considered.
鈥淲e are focusing on the single-family currently鈥nce we can establish that then we鈥檒l start to look at how we can find solutions for multi-family and maybe businesses.鈥�
The program, which could be launched by 2026, would also require the siting and building of a new transfer station.
