Greenwood City Council received a letter from the Regional District Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) advising the municipality that a landfill tipping fee waiver policy for non-profit groups performing humanitarian work is in place.
The policy requires applicants to contact the RDKB Director of Environmental Services who determines whether the project complies with the policy.
The policy specifies separation of all recyclable materials to the greatest extent possible to minimize landfill space requirements.
“Generally the tipping fee waiver policy does not apply to municipalities except where municipalities are partnering with community groups for special clean up projects or events,” stated the letter which had been signed by RDKB CAO John MacLean.
“In certain cases, a municipality may undertake a project that they feel complies with the intent of the bylaw and will request a tipping fee waiver,” said MacLean. “In most cases, RDKB staff will refer these requests to the Board of Directors.”
The letter instructs the city, that if they are planning projects that they feel may qualify for a tipping fee waiver, to contact RDKB staff prior to the start of the project. “If we receive prior notice, staff can advise on ways to maximize diversion and minimize disposal. If, after a review of the project, there is still a desire to request a tipping fee waiver, at least one-month notice is required to meet the Board’s schedule.”
Councillor Barry Noll, who represents the city on the RDKB Board, noted the new policy provides some “wiggle room” on tipping fees. He said that illegal dumping on back roads is a problem that might benefit from the tipping fee waiver policy.
“There is a lot more debris in our backwoods area,” he cautioned. “In the future we might have a backwoods cleanup day. They dump it right on the roads. Before they were discreetly dumping over the banks – now they are dumping it right off their trucks straight on the roads.”