Recycling and compost bins (Submitted photo/SVC Waste Solutions)

By Kevin Rothwell

Curbside food waste collection

The Village of Lumby revamps waste collection

Mar 4, 2021 | 11:32 AM

The Village of Lumby is embarking on a new residential waste collection program that will include curbside organic waste collection.

The move comes as part of a regional effort to reduce the amount of waste going into regional landfills, including Lumby Diversion and Disposal Facility.

The new program includes the following:

• weekly containerized food waste collection (residents will be provided a specific 57 litre container for food waste),
• bi-weekly containerized garbage collection (residents will be provided a specific 240 litre container for garbage),
• bi-weekly recycling collection will continue through the current contractor.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) solid waste management plan calls for the diversion of organic materials, which makes up about 30 per cent of the waste stream.

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

The plan is based on the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery and residuals management.

The implementation of the proposed strategies and actions over a 10-year timeframe is expected to reduce the annual per person disposal rate from 550 kg per capita to 350 kg per capita over the next 10 years, by 2028, through a phased approach. Phasing implementation will optimize existing and implement new waste reduction and diversion programs with the capacity to reduce disposal per capita.

The diverted food waste will be processed at the Spa Hills Compost Facility into chemical-free fertilizer and finished compost.

Spa Hills is also involved in a pilot project in Vernon, where food waste is being collected at centralized drop-off locations, curbside collection of organics is being considered, and a grant application for two-thirds funding has been made.

In Lumby, the next steps in implementation of the new program will include the development and distribution of educational material outlining the program; what is permitted in each container, collection frequency, as well as other tips on waste reduction.

The contractor SVC Waste Solutions and the Village of Lumby will provide further details as the program is rolled out.