The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) Board of Directors have approved a new Solid Waste Disposal Tipping Fee Bylaw.
A statement from the CSRD said that a new tipping fee structure is necessary to maintain financial stability within the solid waste function over the long term.
“The current fee model was sufficient to support the day to day operations of the program, but there was a significant shortfall for future landfill closure costs.” Ben Van Nostrand, Environmental Health Services Team Leader, said in the statement. “The future landfill closure costs in the CSRD have been estimated at $18 million dollars and the new fee structure should ensure the availability of adequate funds to manage all aspects of landfill sites without introducing a taxation component to the program.”
Tipping fees for bagged garbage and refuse will increase, but the fee for other materials, such as asphalt shingles and drywall, has decreased. The new fee structure effective July 1, 2017 is as follows:
| Material (Scaled Facilities) | Existing Fee | New Fee | Minimum Fee |
| Bagged Refuse | $2 per bag | $3 per bag | NIL |
| Refuse | $70 / tonne | $80 / tonne | $5 |
| Mixed Load | $140 / tonne | $160 / tonne | $10 |
| Asphalt Shingles | $140 / tonne | $100 / tonne | $5 |
| Drywall | $140 / tonne | $100 / tonne | $5 |
| Material (Unscaled Facilities) | Existing Fee | New Fee | Minimum Fee |
| Bagged Refuse | $2 per bag | $3 per bag | NIL |
| Refuse (Unscaled) | $10 / m3 | $12 / m3 | $5 |
| Mixed Load | $20 / m3 | $25 / m3 | $10 |
| Asphalt Shingles | $20 / m3 | $15 / m3 | $5 |
| Drywall | $20 / m3 | $15 / m3 | $5 |
With the new fee changes, the CSRD will enhance inspections of incoming loads to ensure the proper fees are applied.
“The goal of the CSRD is to provide financial and environmental sustainability to its solid waste program,” Van Nostrand said. “Incoming loads of refuse containing recyclable materials will be charged at the appropriate mixed load rate to encourage the separation of recyclable materials.”
