Changes to Carmi-area curbside collection service

PENTICTON – Homes in the Carmi Road area, to the east of Penticton, will start receiving curbside garbage and recycling collection as of Friday, March 4, 2016. The 87 homes have for over 10 years been using a drop-off depot located in Penticton.

In a report submitted to the Regional District Board in December, RDOS Staff point to the start of a new province wide recycling program as a major reason for the change.

Multi-Material BC (MMBC) helps pay for the curbside collection of recyclables but doesn’t contribute to the depot used by Carmi residents. In 2015 the net cost per year to provide this depot was $26.54 more per home than the cost for curbside collection.

Moving to curbside collection will save over $2,300 per year for the program.

The Carmi depot was originally set up due to concerns that garbage would attract bears to the area. The Regional District will require that residents place out garbage only on the day of collection, use bear-proof garbage carts or set up bear-proof garbage enclosures at the end of their driveways. These requirements were implemented in Naramata and resulted in a dramatic reduction in bears being killed from 5-7 per year to only two in the last five years.

The last day Carmi residents will have access to their garbage and recycling depot will be Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Residents with questions can contact the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Solid Waste group at 250-490-4129, toll free 1-877-610-3737, info@rdos.bc.ca or visit www.rdos.bc.ca.