Columbia Shuswap Regional District directors were pleased with amendments to the solid waste disposal tipping fees, particularly as it relates to organic material collected through the FireSmart program.
But Ben Van Nostrand, general manager, environmental and utility services, said there are a couple of catches.
The increasing participation in the BC FireSmart program has resulted in a surge of organic material being delivered to CSRD landfills across the region, with some participants arriving in double-axle vehicles and being told they would be charged for their loads.
“In an effort to support the CSRD’s FireSmart programs, Van Nostrand proposed waiving tipping fees for FireSmart yard and garden waste, irrespective of multiple axle delivery,” noting drivers will have to sign a waiver indicating they are indeed delivering FireSmart material. “The purpose of the waiver sign-off is to help FireSmart coordinators track and follow up with residents taking advantage of this free service.”
Van Nostrand said the regional district recommends that people should call the FireSmart coordinator and ask how they can organize a community event.
“They will organize the event and provide bins,” he says. “The intent is not for commercial trucks looking to dispose of land-clearing materials or construction waste for free.”
Most directors said they have fielded several complaints from people who were upset with having to pay to deliver the FireSmart material, and were pleased with the proposed changes. But Electoral Area E Director Rhona Martin asked why the service will not be provided at transfer stations as well as the Salmon Arm landfill.
Van Nostrand indicated that the transfer stations cannot support large loads and that both the Skimikin and Scotch Creek transfer stations have sometimes been forced to close when they receive more material than they can handle.
Martin noted that chippers have been made available at transfer stations on occasion in the past and asked if it would be possible to include that in the FireSmart program. Van Nostrand responded by saying the program is evolving and the regional district continues to work with the FireSmart program to improve service delivery and make changes to accommodate the FireSmart program. The change to waive tipping fees for large loads of FireSmart materials is an attempt to make it easy on customers who are trying to do the right thing and the information collected will be shared with the FireSmart program.
Having each received numerous complaints about having to pay for delivering large loads of FireSmart materials from their residents, several directors echoed praise for Van Nostrand’s efforts in developing the program.
“Sorry, I’m going to have to take back my echo,” said Electoral Area F Director Jay Simpson on hearing that FireSmart materials would only be accepted at CSRD landfills. “I appreciate the work you have done for the Salmon Arm landfill; unfortunately it doesn’t help obviously the North Shuswap.”
Simpson was reminded that residents have the ability to organize community FireSmart initiatives by contacting the CSRD’s FireSmart coordinator.
In his Dec. 13 report to the board, Van Nostrand advised directors that the CSRD administers contracts associated with the management of the City of Salmon Arm’s curbside food waste collection program.
He noted that in 2024, the regional district’s agreement with Spa Hills composting ended and no compliant bids were received for delivering this service. As a result, the CSRD negotiated a new agreement with Grasslands Organics in which new rates including hauling to the company’s Kamloops facility, are approximately $180 per tonne versus the old rate of $110 per tonne at Spa Hills.
“The CSRD is recommending a new rate of $150 per tonne to help offset the increased costs for the service,” he said.
CSRD staff met with City of Salmon Arm staff on Oct. 24 to discuss the proposed changes to the tipping fees related to the city’s food waste program.
Van Nostrand said it will be up to the city to decide how they will raise the funds to meet the shortfall, perhaps through utility bills or taxes, something directors did not discuss at the board meeting.
