West Kelowna 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.
91裸聊视频淏ecause we have a major illegal dumping program and I see us going to two weeks compounding the problem.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have open food waste for crows, open food waste for bears it91裸聊视频檚 still going to be in a bin,91裸聊视频� he added.
Other options included additional carts for food waste only and kitchen countertop composters.
91裸聊视频淭o me, technology is the solution rather than continuing to put waste in the landfill,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淏ecause that91裸聊视频檚 where the majority of our future development will be,91裸聊视频� he said
Coates said it is being considered.
91裸聊视频淲e are focusing on the single-family currently91裸聊视频nce we can establish that then we91裸聊视频檒l start to look at how we can find solutions for multi-family and maybe businesses.91裸聊视频�
The program, which could be launched by 2026, would also require the siting and building of a new transfer station.