RDCK Board Highlights – January 2025

Inland Ferries in the RDCK

The Board approved the writing of two letters regarding inland ferry service. The first to be sent on behalf of the RDCK Board to the Minister of Transportation and Transit requesting the BC Government implement, meaningful consultation, automatic standing, hearings in impacted communities, and prioritize the mental health and welfare impacts on BC residents while considering the needs of physically isolated communities before it can disrupt access for BC resident’s access to essential services they rely upon for their health, safety, and welfare.

The second letter will be sent on behalf of the RDCK Board to the Premier of British Columbia and Minister of Transportation and Transit acknowledging that the Province legislate that inland ferry services are categorized as essential services for residents of BC, and further, the current essential service orders for daily sailings of the Kootenay Lake, Glade, and Harrop-Procter ferries does not meet the needs of those communities, and that a new determination be made on the minimum number and frequency of daily sailings required to maintain each crossing.

Resource Recovery Facility Regulatory Bylaw

The Board adopted a new Resource Recovery Facility Regulatory Bylaw which includes a 10% increase on all tipping fees at RDCK landfills and transfer stations, effective February 1, 2025. As waste management becomes more complex, capital and operating costs, which include fuel, labour, insurance, interest on borrowing repayment, and more stringent regulatory requirements, continue to increase. Additionally, sufficient reserve funds are required to minimize future borrowing costs and fund a number of long-term projects such as landfill upgrades and infrastructure replacement.

The RDCK is committed towards operating “user pay” facilities, meaning those who generate waste pay for its disposal. The purpose of this is to financially incentivize diversion.

The bylaw also has made changes to promote diversion of organic waste to composting facilities, through the acceptance of compostable plastic bag liners, produced from biomass, for their environmental benefits and competitive pricing.

Resource Recovery System Efficiency Study

In 2024, the RDCK undertook a system efficiency study to gain a better understanding of the costs of managing specific waste materials, as well as to identify options for improving cost effectiveness and equitability across the region. The study identified existing tipping fees were not sufficient to cover the current cost of disposal for most materials. As a result, the shortfall has been made up through taxation, which impacts everyone regardless of individual waste generation and diversion efforts. The study recommended increasing tipping fees, as well as the closure of some Satellite facilities. Winlaw Recycling Depot will be closed some time in 2025. The closure will save $33,382 on an annual basis while still providing residents a high level of service.

Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Organics Collection Pilot Program

The Board approved proposed subsidies and support for the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional organics diversion pilot program in and around the City of Nelson. This includes a reduction in commercial organics tipping fee, education and training support for participating businesses, development of a communications plan to promote and support the pilot, and rebates for the first 25 participating businesses.

Director’s Reports