Landfill fees going up in the south Okanagan

It’s soon going to cost more to take out the trash in the south Okanagan.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is raising fees from $95 a metric tonne for regular garbage to $110 at the Penticton, Oliver, Okanagan Falls and Keremeos landfills.

In addition to the higher fees, the amount of yard and wood waste that can be brought to the landfill for free will drop from 500 kg per load to 100 kg per load.

The increase in fees is in reaction to a recent life-cycle study at the Campbell Mountain landfill in Penticton.

The landfill faces significant problems, including surface water drainage onto the site and leachate running off the site.

Another challenge comes with requirements to capture methane gas.

The other landfills in the regional district are increasing fees to match the Campbell Mountain site to prevent people from shopping around.

The new fees take effect on May 1.