Wayne Moore - Story: Mar 3, 2009 CASTANET:
It is going to cost homeowners nearly $30 a year more for Solid Waste Reduction Services. The 2009 fee, approved Monday, is $176.82 per household. The main culprit says Infrastructure Planning Project Manager, Mark Watt, is a downturn in the recycling market. "There is a substantial increase to the Solid Waste Reduction fee. The increase is due primarily to the loss of the recycle market and to reduce the impact by using landfill revenues," says Watt. "Due to lost revenue, (recycle market crash), costs have risen dramatically." Currently, homeowners pay $87.40 a year for curbside collection and $61.68 per year for Solid Waste Reduction. Watt says the collection fee is remaining the same, however, the waste reduction fee will increase $28 per year. He says that includes a $10 subsidy through utilization of landfill revenues.
"Historically, landfill revenues have covered off some of this cost over the years, anywhere from $2 to $5. It is recommended we continue to use landfill revenues up to $10." A portion of the increase is an $18.86 a year cost for new automated garbage carts. That fee will last for 10 years.Watt says fees could go down once the recycle market stabilizes. "We are not fair weather recyclers. We are in this and we are in this to ensure everything we have invested keeps going." Councilor Robert Hobson, says it's unfortunate costs are going up, but says Kelowna residents will just have to bite the bullet for now.
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Don Quixote Note: Vernon Garbage Collection costs for the average homeowner will increase from $76.92 to $84.72 (10.14% Increase) while recycling will increase from $22.00 to $22.36 (a 1.63% increase.
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