West Kelowna has passed, for now, on joining a regional food waste collection program.
It乌鸦传媒檚 the second community, following in Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 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.
乌鸦传媒淭hey do play a big role in helping fund services through the regional district,乌鸦传媒� Councillor Stephen Johnston pointed out. 乌鸦传媒淔or me at this time, this is not an expense in good conscience I can put forward to our residents.乌鸦传媒�
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乌鸦传媒檚 cost concerns.
乌鸦传媒淧articularly with this economy that we乌鸦传媒檙e wresting with, costs matter,乌鸦传媒� de Jong noted. 乌鸦传媒淲e need to be prudent with our monies.乌鸦传媒�
The RDCO乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒攅stimated at $12 million.
Mayor Gord Milsom said West Kelowna may consider joining the program in the future.
乌鸦传媒淏ut we can乌鸦传媒檛 be there on our own,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲ith Kelowna not participating, the $150 plus is something we can乌鸦传媒檛 ask our residents to pay. It乌鸦传媒檚 only going to work if we all come together as a region.乌鸦传媒�
Kelowna city staff noted significant uncertainties with the program including the location of a new transfer station, design, technical features, and space requirements.
乌鸦传媒淭hese factors乌鸦传媒攃ombined with cost乌鸦传媒攎ake this the wrong time to proceed,乌鸦传媒� a staff report stated.
The RDCO will be pitching its food waste collection program to other Central Okanagan communities.
