Westsiders to brace for bigger fees to dump trash

Whether they haul it themselves or set it on the curb for pick-up, Westsiders are going to pay more for getting rid of their garbage.

The yearly charge for trash, yard waste and recycling pick up is set to rise to $200 from $168.

And the charge for leaving a small load of garbage at the West Kelowna transfer station could rise to $4.50 from $2.50 within two years. The charge for an extra large load will rise to $80 from $50.

The higher charges at the transfer station are expected to increase total revenues by more than $55,000, while the expense of operating the station is forecast to rise less than $20,000.

The $35,000 difference, regional officials say in a report to West Kelowna council, will be used to reduce the amount of taxpayer subsidy required by the transfer station on Asquith Road.

Since the West Kelowna landfill closed, garbage is collected at the transfer station and then trucked to the Glenmore dump in Kelowna.

Last fall, Kelowna city council approved an across-the-board increase to all fees associated with the Glenmore dump. Kelowna homeowners saw their yearly fee for curbside collection rise to $174 from $162.

As well, the tipping fee charged at the dump has risen to $85 a tonne from $65 a tonne, and the minimum dumping charge is now $11 with the elimination of a $2.50 charge per bag.

Dumping of yard waste, which had been free, now costs $5 up to 250 kg.

The hefty increases were said to be needed so the dump remains selffunding, without requiring any direct subsidy of tax dollars. Despite the increases, Kelowna’s dump charges are said to be less than Penticton, Summerland, and Vernon.