Compost (Regional District of North Okanagan)

By Kevin Rothwell

Grant funds could soften the cost to tax

Update: Food waste and organics collection program advancing

Feb 9, 2021 | 5:20 PM

Update: Vernon council is hoping a grant proposal to cover two-thirds of the cost of establishing curbside collection of food waste and organic material, will kick start the over $1.4 million dollar initial cost.

Council paused when learning that organic collection carts would cost $935,000, that cost along with an education program would be the bulk of one time costs. Vernon staff were uncertain what the ongoing program might cost, it could be offset however by more items being diverted from the landfill, and conversion of the organic waste to fertilizer.

Council approved seeking the grant, which may not be available in future years, and requires funds to be spent by 2024.

“If we don’t receive the grant we will have to consider our options going forward,”  Long-range planning and sustainability manager Laurie Cordell said.

The cities current garbage and recycling contractor may be able to alternate pick-up to include organics, but a request for proposals will be sought by staff.

Missing Over a Year

RCMP renew call for aid in search of man missing over a year

2h ago

Coldstream Creek Assessment

Grant sought for local water quality assessment project

3h ago

School Zone Safety

Letter to RDNO asks for increases to school zone speed rules

3h ago

Diverting food waste and increasing recycling are part of the cities strategic plan and climate action plan.

According to an ‘Second Harvest’ an organization trying to cut down on food waste a whopping 58 per cent of all food produced in Canada is lost, some at harvest, transport, restaurants, retail grocer and at home, with the bulk of it ending up in landfills.

Original: Efforts to divert food and other organic waste from the landfill stream are getting fine tuned by City of Vernon staff.

It’s estimated that the program would initially cost over $1.4 million dollars, including $935,000 alone for organics carts. There is an opportunity to get two-thirds in grant money, and lessen the impact on taxpayers.

Some municipalities have charged the carts to homeowners as a one-time utility fee.

A report will go before council for direction including the final steps of due diligence to confirm if household organics collection is feasible for Vernon.

• A recommendation to make an application to the CleanBC Organics lnfrastructure and Collection Program for funding to support the program.
• Confirmation that should council choose to move forward with the household organics collection program, the city commits to fund one-third of the project (up to a maximum of $475,000) through the Climate Action Revolving Fund.
• Administration would advise program administrators of the CleanBC Organics lnfrastructure and Collection Program by May 1, 2021 of council’s decision-to implement a household organics collection program.

The only options currently in play for people to divert organics are back-yard composting units, or a few collection points being run on a trial basis with Spa Hills Farm.