Curbside collection info session held ahead of May 11 vote

On April 25, about 11 people attended an online public information session about the upcoming referendum on curbside garbage, recyclables, and compost collection for some Area H and F residents.

Matt Morrison, RDCK’s Organics Coordinator, led the presentation. Morrison’s work focuses on increasing the amount of organic waste that is diverted from regional landfills. For the last couple of years, he’s been coordinating the process of bringing curbside collections services to an assent vote.

Area F Director Tom Newell chaired the meeting, while Area H Director Walter Popoff fielded questions. Other RDCK staff included Alayne Hamilton, environmental services project lead, and Uli Wolf, general manager of environmental services.

What are people voting for?

Residents are voting on the service establishment bylaw, which would enable the RDCK to proceed with establishing the collection service. If passed, residents could expect curbside collection by mid-2025.

The curbside collection would be a three-stream service: garbage, recycling, and food waste. Food waste would be picked up weekly, and garbage and recycling (paper, cardboard, metal cans, hard plastics) would be collected biweekly. Glass, soft plastics, and styrofoam would not be accepted in the recycling bin and would still need to be taken to a depot or transfer station.

The service would also come with a new wildlife-resistant bin for food waste, a small counter-top container for organics, and a recycling container.

The absolute most the RDCK could charge residents for the service would be $280/year, until 2029. After five years, the maximum requisition amount could increase by up to 25%, to recover costs in case of inflation pressures. The exact costs won’t be calculated until there is a competitive bidding process for a service provider.

There would be no opt-out option; residents that have access to the service will be charged whether they use the service or not. This is because the RDCK is relying on a fixed number of households (2,129) contributing in order for the program to move forward.

Funds would be collected from homeowners via a utility fee or parcel tax.

What about wildlife?

Morrison emphasized the program’s priority to keep human-wildlife conflict to a minimum.

“We live in bear country and we have lots of bears that call this place home,” he said. “In no way does this initiative have an intent or desire to exacerbate bear habituation… In fact, we perceive that these kinds of services may alleviate certain issues that arise from bear habituation and wildlife issues in our communities.”

Most organic waste would be accepted – not only the usual veggie and fruit scraps, but also meats, dairy, bones, grains, eggs, food-soiled paper and other items not usually allowed in backyard composters. Weekly collection removes the greatest attractants from backyards and provides a way to dispose of food waste when backyard compost activity slows in the winter.

To keep attractants down, Morrison explained that the food waste bins can be layered with cardboard, leaves, and other ‘brown’ material. Especially attractive wastes like meat can also be frozen to minimize scents. Though the bins would be wildlife-resistant bins, residents would still need to make sure bins are secured so that animals can’t drag them away from the property.

Why divert?

Diverting organic waste from landfills has an added benefit of reducing emissions, said Morrison.

Organic waste makes up 35% of household waste. When food waste is trapped in plastic bags and decomposes in an oxygen-poor environment, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.

Diverting food waste from landfills and bringing it to an appropriate processing facility can reduce those emissions, as well as extend the life of landfills by freeing up space. Offering curbside collection, Morrison said, makes it easier and more accessible to do this.

RDCK composting facilities create Class A compost, which is fit for growing food, landscaping, etc. Once finished, the Class A compost would be sold to the community – a valuable resource for food production and fertile soil, said Morrison.

Who? When?

Residents from Passmore Old Road to Bonnington, and up the north side of Kootenay River and the West Arm to Crescent Bay are eligible to vote. Check rdck.ca/FHCurbside for the map, or email organics@rdck.ca or call 250- 551-6647 to find out if your address is in the proposed service area.

Residents and non-resident property owners can vote in person from 8 am to 8 pm at the RDCK office in Nelson, or at Crescent Valley Hall. Electors wishing to vote by mail ballot must apply to the RDCK before May 9 at 4 pm, and must return their ballots by 8 pm on May 11. Results will be posted Monday, May 13.

Rachael Lesosky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice