RDCK expected to let changes go to Waste
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
Public composting, the removal of the waste transfer station from Nelson’s waterfront and cost savings are the big changes touted in the draft Resource Recovery Plan, released Thursday by the RDCK board of directors.
Although it now goes to the community for review and comment — and further to the Ministry of the Environment for final approval — the current draft could easily become reality throughout most of the Regional District of Central Kootenay, including Nelson.
Behind the scenes there are big changes planned for resource recovery — formerly waste management — with the amalgamation of the three waste districts into two, and the whittling of four garbage dumps down to two.
On the civilian end, people will eventually be able to bring organic material for composting, while the Environmental Services department will look at drawing heat energy out of the de-composing matter.
There will be a new waste transfer station in Nelson and Kaslo, said John Dooley, the director for Nelson on the board.
“But this is not just beneficial for just our community,” he said. “This could not be put together if everybody from Marblehead to just south of Salmo wasn’t on board with this plan.”
The efficiencies gained and provincial approval would not have come if the greater portion of the regional district was not included, Dooley pointed out.
The land freed up on Nelson’s waterfront by removal of the transfer station would be up to the community to decide what to use that land for, said Dooley.
“In my opinion as mayor, I think it needs to be retained as an anchor park at one end of the pathway, and then have Red Sands at the other end,” he said.
Every five years regional districts are required to update their resource recovery plan. The one the RDCK possesses hasn’t been touched since 1996. If accepted, the draft will become part of the Solid Waste Management Plan for 2012-2016. The document will detail the next five years for waste management, with a 20-year look as well.
The name reflects the new focus on waste diversion and recovery of resources from what are traditionally considered to be waste streams, said Uli Wolf, RDCK general manager of Environmental Services.
The plan will be about gaining efficiencies, replacing aging infrastructure and achieving financial sustainability for Resource Recovery Services, alignment with Zero Waste goals and reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, he said.
To gain efficiency, roll-off bins will be replaced at transfer stations by stationary bins that are dumped into a compacting trailer — crushing the waste so that a truck can carry more in one trip.
There is an initial capital cost for the new equipment, said Wolf, but it will be recovered over the life of the five-year plan.
“The plan, overall, allows regional districts to implement capital projects without going through the required borrowing procedures of referendum or alternative approval process in order to be allowed to borrow for capital projects,” said Wolf.
“That is why we have extensive open houses.”
Open houses will take place this month as the RDCK will begin consulting with residents, businesses, member municipalities, First Nations, adjacent regional districts and government agencies.
If there are significant issues the regional district needs to incorporate, they will go back and re-draft the plan, said Wolf.
The public comment period runs until Nov. 12. For more information please visit www.rdck.bc.ca.
Commitments outlined in the draft plan include waste reduction initiatives and projects that will increase system efficiency, improve service and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Plan proposes improving programs, transport systems, new facilities for yard and garden waste composting, development of a comprehensive disposal bylaw, development of a unified region-wide recycling program, landfill closure (Salmo and Nakusp) and upgrades to transfer stations to improve efficiencies.
The system changes should be paid for within the existing budget of the service, said Dooley, since efficiencies gained would free up the money for use on that.
Open houses
Ootischenia: Tues, Oct. 19, 4pm to 8pm, Community Hall
Creston: Mon. Oct. 25, 4pm to 8pm, Community Complex
Salmo: Wed, Oct. 27, 4pm to 8pm, Community Service Centre
Nakusp: Mon, Nov. 1, 4pm to 8pm, Senior Citizens Hall
Nelson: Mon, Nov. 8, 4pm to 8pm, RDCK Boardroom
