For now, residents can go back to dumping up to 500 kilograms of free yard and garden waste at Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen landfills and transfer stations.
A fees and charges bylaw amendment dropping the amount from 500 kilograms to just 100 kilograms allowed dumped in one trip was approved earlier this year. That change was supposed to be effective starting May 1. Since then, many directors including Area D (Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Apex) director Tom Siddon have received complaints.
Siddon brought forward a director’s motion Thursday at the RDOS meeting that suspends the reduction in the amount until a detailed report can come forward to the board.
The motion was supported unanimously.
Siddon said he would permanently support a suspension of the change.
“Otherwise this waste is going to end up in the bush,” he said during the meeting.
Related: First Nation land trashed by dumpers
Siddon noted that yard and garden waste is chipped and used by the RDOS in landfill and transfer station operations.
Chair of the RDOS Karla Kozakevich said she’d also heard from residents complaining about the reduction. Often people are just taking multiple trips on the same day to the transfer station and landfill site.
“I think most people here have heard from residents on this issue,” she said.
A detailed report is expected at the May 18 board meeting.