Recycling pick-up may increase in central Okanagan

The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is considering increasing the frequency of curbside recycling pick-up.

“We are finding that we’re getting quite a bit of feedback from residents that their bins are full much sooner than the two week period,” Peter Rotheisler, RDCO’s manager of environmental services, said.

The consideration is part of the solid waste management plan, which is being reviewed.

Right now, recycling pick-up within the central Okanagan happens on a bi-weekly basis but many residents would like to see collection frequency increase.

“Recycling is bulky material in general so it takes up a lot of space in the cart so that is the primary driver for this,” Rotheisler said.

In addition to more frequent recycling collection, the solid waste management plan review is also looking at other possible changes to the curbside program, including a format that would allow residents to put their garbage out as they wish and be charged accordingly.

“So if residents want to put out less frequently because they are seasonal or they are a two person family they can and they will see some financial incentives to put it out,” Rotheisler said. “And those that require more frequently, large families,large households,  they can put it out more frequently so we are looking at variations in collection frequency.”

With the current contract in place for another year and a half or so, any changes to the curbside program wouldn’t occur until spring 2019.