Regional District of Nanaimo curbside collection service rates will go up by three per cent this year.
The Solid Waste Management Select Committee approved, at its meeting on Jan. 18, the proposed amendment to the residential curbside collection of garbage, food waste and recyclables regulation and charges bylaw that will see residents pay between $5 to $10 more annually.
The fee increase has been attributed to Recycle BC’s decision to change its material receiving facility from Nanaimo and Parksville to Chemainus, effective Nov. 29, 2021.
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Manager of solid waste service, Larry Gardner, informed the committee Recycle BC is allowed to change the receiving facility under the terms of the contract it has with the RDN, provided the location is 60 kilometres away from the boundaries of Nanaimo.
The RDN receives $1.1 million annually from Recycle BC to pay for the cost of picking up recycling materials and fund the community curbside outreach programs. But the RDN is responsible for covering any costs that will result from Recycle BC’s decision to change its receiving facility. It has been forecast that will cost $250,000 annually or more.
Gardner said they have put Recycle BC on notice that in the next contract negotiations, the RDN expects Recycle BC to choose a dropoff location that will not end up costing the RDN additional expense.