Big fee increases essential to keep the Central Okanagan’s only landfill in operation

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – Tipping fees for waste disposal at Kelowna’s Glenmore landfill are going up by more than 50 per cent, one of a broad range of fee increases for services at the only landfill in the Central Okanagan.

From raising tipping fees to $100 per tonne to adding for the first time a $5 charge for dropping off yard waste, Kelowna council agreed to a package of increases designed, not just to increase capacity but keep the landfill operating.

Just to achieve that the city must spend $51 million over the next ten years on a list of infrastructure projects as well complete its landfill closure plan, a condition of its operating permit.

Designed as a self-sufficient business unit — it’s supposed to survive on the fees it charges — utilities manager Kevin Van Vliet told councillors the landfill risked early closure before if changes weren’t made at an unknown future cost to Kelowna taxpayers.

With the closing of landfills in Peachland and West Kelowna, volumes have risen from 90,000 tonnes in 2000 to 150,000 tonnes last year and are expected to double again by 2065, Van Vliet said in his report to council.

To handle that increase, waste will be piled both higher and steeper, capping out at 90 metres instead of 70 metres and adding 25 years to the landfill’s working life.

As well as financing the infrastructure expansion, the fee increases are expected to temper demand, Van Vliet said, by boosting recycling rates and discouraging waste haulers from outside the Central Okanagan.

With such a wide gap in tipping fees — other landfills charge a minimum of $100 per tonne, Kelowna charges $65 — Van Vliet said outside haulers have every incentive to make the trip to Central Okanagan and save 35 per cent on waste disposal.

The rate increase will be phased in starting at $85 next year, rising to $100 by 2020. Fees will also increase for contaminated recycling, mattress, biosolids and loads requiring sorting.

General garbage disposal fees will rise to $11 per load. Residential waste collection will rise to $174.30.


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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca