The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and Village of Keremeos will be holding an information session for the public on Nov. 12, to go over coming changes to garbage and recycling pickups.
The information session will be held at Victory Hall starting at 6 p.m. with the presentation from RDOS staff planned starting 6:15 p.m. with questions to follow.
The RDOS, and through them the Village, signed a new curbside collection contract with Waste Connections Canada in June 2024 that will take effect in the summer of 2025.
That new contract will come with both higher costs and changes to the pick-up process.
The largest change will be the switch from semi-automated collection vehicles to fully-automated, which means residents will need to check if their cans meet the new requirements.
In October, RDOS directors voted to approve developing a rebate program for the district to purchase any compatible cans from residents in exchange for a reduction in pick-up service costs.
Residents who don't have compatible cans will be provided with a basic set, along with additional options for higher fees.
Garbage cans will be offered in a standard 120-litre size, with an optional increase to 240 litres or to a bear-proof 120-litre size. Recycling will be offered in a standard 240 with an option for 360, and yard waste in 240 with an option for 120 litres.
Adding an additional yard-waste container or increasing the size of the garbage can is currently planned to cost households an additional $5 per month each, while a bear-proof can will be an extra $4 per month.
The new cans will be delivered in July 2025, as the new contract takes effect.
