City Pushes Idea For Compost Program

The Regional District of North Okanagan is going to take a closer look at the need for a composting program, but a collection program could be 5 to 10 years away.

The City of Vernon says RDNO has hired a consultant to review the “Facilites Life Cycle Cost Assessment and Organics Management Options.’

“One of the requirements of this project is to examine the feasibility of incorporating a composting program at the Greater Vernon Recycling and Disposal Facility, including the handling of organics such as food scraps,” says an administration update to Vernon council.

Due to the requirements and steps needed for the program, the option for implementing such a program has been set for the next 5 to 10 years.

Vernon councillor Catherine Lord says that’s too long.

“I think there is a lot more people getting interested in it now. And our landfill, I think it’s going to last maybe another 20 years, and we’re gong to be looking for something else. And the costs to clean up the landfill, they’re huge,” Lord tells Kiss FM.

Lord would like to see the issue put the public to find out their appetite for a program, once RDNO completes its review.

Councillor Dalvir Nahal would also like to see something quicker, given the support residents seem to have.

“I just feel like five years is a long time. Enough communities have already implemented this program that we should be able to go off of what they’re doing, what’s working and what’s not working.”

Councillor Scott Anderson agrees with the need for quicker action.

“From a cost point of view, when we are looking at a 20 year timeline for the dump and the enormous costs that go into closing it, the more we can divert from that the better,” Anderson tells Kiss FM.

The issue is expected to get more discussion at future RDNO meetings.