The regional district board pondered a budget problem over the Campbell Mountain Landfill at the November 15 Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting.
The regional district is looking at a $250,000 deficit at the landfill this year. There are adequate reserves to handle the lack of funding this year, but the board would like to find a solution to the deficit in time for the 2013 budget.
RDOS Public Works Manager Doug French described the landfill’s present operating hours as a “Cadillac operation” with respect to the number of operating hours the landfill has.
The regional district hopes to achieve a 73 per cent diversion rate in 10 years, up from the current 51 per cent. They are also looking at all avenues to increase the life of the landfill.
A staff report noted that landfill fees in the Okanagan north of Kelowna are $80 per tonne while the South Okanagan were in the order of $65 per tonne. Staff’s analysis of the revenue shortfall brought forward three potential options:
- Reduce service hours (could reduce operating and wage expenses by 10 per cent.
- increase the landfill capacity
- increase tipping fees
Board disussion centred around the issues of inconsistent landfill rates that might have the potential to draw people outside of their own waste sheds to use the cheaper landfill.The board also discussed issues surrounding high prices at the landfill and illegal dumping.