Regional waste management to cost $8.4 million in 2021

Feb 19, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) directors had a look at the second biggest expense for the district at their Wednesday (Feb. 17, 2021) meeting.

Only the Parks and Recreation function is larger than waste management.

The waste management budget indicates it will cost about $100,000, or 1.3 per cent, less to manage the North Okanagan’s six diversion and disposal facilities in 2021, as well as solid waste administration and waste reduction and recycling.

Wages and benefits increased over 14 per cent, and the operating budget 1.5 per cent.

Staff costs were up about $60,000 in 2020 to deal with public health orders, and an increase in activity, as people used the COVID-19 shutdown to clean up and organize.

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The savings come from a decline in capital project costs of nearly $144,000 and a reduction in reserve transfers of $190,000.

The majority of the operating and capital funding for the facilities comes from user fees and other income, along with transfers from reserves and surpluses.

Fees have gone up from $103 per tonne to $105 per tonne.

The total tax requisition will stay the same as 2020 at $420,000.

“The average taxpayer will see their tax bill decline, due to the growth of the tax base.” Steve Banman, RDNO General Manager of Finance said.

Waste management financial plan (photo / RDNO)

Two North Okanagan landfills still have considerable capacity, with the Greater Vernon Diversion and Disposal Facility (GVDDF) good through 2059, which includes quantities from the Armstrong Spallumcheen Diversion and Disposal Facility site when it closes in the next few years. With the GVDDF lateral expansion work being investigated, the capacity at the Greater Vernon facility could be much greater.

The Lumby Diversion and Disposal Facility has capacity to 2071 and there are adjacent lands where the landfill could expand to in the future if needed.

The budget still requires final approval, when the entire RDNO 2021 budget is adopted.

by Kevin Rothwell

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