Regional district board approves new garbage collection contract with old operator, new name

PENTICTON – The regional district secured its garbage contract for the next seven years, dropping plans to implement a cart system similar to Penticton’s at this week’s regional board meeting.

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen solid waste management coordinator Cameron Baughen told the board the present collector — Progressive Waste — was the cheapest bidder in a recent request for proposals issued by the regional district for a garbage contract for the next seven years.

Progressive Waste Solutions bid for the contract was placed under a new name for the company, Waste Connections of Canada, in the amount of $1,053,819.

Baughen said the district contract price was based on the current collection system of customer supplied containers following discussions and public input over whether or not the district should start moving towards a cart based program similar to the City of Penticton’s.

Under the current contract he said unlimited yard waste often resulted in trucks filling faster and having to make more trips to the dump, but the current success of the yard waste program has precluded any changes to unlimited collection to this point.

Baughen said reducing container weights would not result in a cost savings to the district, noting that could only be done by placing maximum limits on yard waste. The board could look at reducing container maximum weights from the current 25kg (55 lbs), Baughen said, in order to reduce health concerns associated with operators lifting heavy garbage bins.

The new contract term is for seven years compared to the previous contract’s five year term. Baughen said the longer term gave the district better value in the service life of the collection vehicles, which generally have a seven to 10 year lifespan.

The new contract takes effect July 1, 2018.

The lone voice of dissent in approving the recommendation came from Area “G" Director Elef Christensen, who said he had no idea what his area’s cost would be in the contract.

Chief Administrative Officer Bill Newell told him those costs were revealed in an in-camera meeting Christensen failed to attend.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.