Throughout April and May, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will be conducting open houses across the Regional area to get public feedback on a number of potential solid waste projects.
These include the siting of a regional compost facility, the use of carts for residential collection and an update of capital projects at local landfills.
Using funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the RDOS completed a large scale composting feasibility study in 2016. The purpose of the study was to determine the best locations to site compost facilities. Factors included odour potential, choice of technologies and transportation links.
Of the 18 sites considered, two were ranked the highest. One potential site is located within the Penticton Indian Band at 2760 Marron Valley Rd. The other is located at the Summerland Landfill on property owned by the District of Summerland. These potential sites are being brought forward to hear concerns from local property owners.
The benefits of a Regional Compost Facility include the reduction of greenhouse gases, the creation of food waste compost for local growers and savings in disposal costs. Local concerns include potential odour and heavy truck traffic. Open houses regarding both sites will be held in May.
The potential of supplying carts for homes in Summerland, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos and rural parts of the RDOS will also be discussed. The City of Penticton commenced a cart based collection program last year. Penticton homes were supplied a garbage, yard waste and recycle cart. The RDOS and other member municipalities are looking at this program with the potential implementation in July of 2018.
The RDOS has created an online survey for residents outside Penticton to gauge interest in supplying carts to all homes. The online survey is located at http://form.surveypal.net/Cart_Survey. Surveys will also be available at all open houses or can be sent by mail if requested.
Open houses are also being held to discuss projects at landfills. The first will be on April 24 at the Penticton Library Auditorium at 785 Main St. A presentation on the Campbell Mountain Landfill will be held at 7 p.m. to discuss drainage, leachate and the potential use of a biocover to reduce methane emissions.
Other open houses:
Organics and carts — April 26 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Osoyoos Sonora Centre
Organics and carts — April 27 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Okanagan Falls Community Centre
Oliver Landfill, organics and carts — May 1 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at the Oliver Community Hall
Organics and carts — May 2 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at West Bench Elementary School
Organics and carts — May 3 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at Naramata Elementary Gym
Organics and carts — May 4 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. at Keremeos Victory Hall
Marron Valley Road Compost Facility, Organics and Carts — May 10 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Kaleden Community Hall
Summerland Landfill Compost Facility, Organics and carts — May 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Odd Fellows/Rebekah Hall in Summerland
For further information please visit www.rdos.bc.ca, e-mail organics@rdos.bc.ca, call 250-490-4129 or toll-free 1-877-610-3737.