One has to wonder where the North Okanagan Regional District has been in recent months? It's been known for some time that the City of Vernon is looking to remove dumpsters from owntown alleys but to make the transition in collection easier for merchants, a curbside recycling program is necessary. But with the deadline for yanking dumpsters just a month away, NORD is still no closer to implementing a commercial recycling initiative. The regional district defends its actions by saying that it is trying to resolve legal issues around launching a public service that used to be provided by the private sector. But that appears to be nothing more than excuse by politicians and bureaucrats for dragging their feet. First off, NORD has access to the best lawyers taxpayers can buy so this matter shouldn't be that complex. And secondly, many merchants are tossing their recyclables straight into the trash so obviously they haven't been accessing a private service. It's unfortunate that NORD hasn't been a team player because a recycling program would directly reduce the amount of trash going into the landfill it operates. That would expand the longevity of the site and prevent the regional district from having to purchase more land for a new dump at great expense. And through Greater Vernon Services, NORD has taken an active role in a new community garden on East Hill. Wouldn't the food waste from downtown restaurants be better used as compost at a community garden than going straight into the garbage? In the end, removing dumpsters makes sense as a way of improving the aesthetics and safety of the downtown core, and it's time that the North Okanagan Regional District got with the program.
2 comments:
Typical Nord-a bunch of useless wantabe politicians and a bunch of overpaid beaurocraps. Its not time that Nord got with the program-its time Nord got out of our way and stopped wasting our tax dollars.
The DVA can take some blame, too. Other towns have recycling bins on the sidewalk so people can sort their garbage. Not Vernon - we throw away newspapers & cans into the garbage, and it all goes to the landfill.
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