The Cariboo Regional District is looking to introduce tipping fees for commercial wood waste and construction/demolition debris dumped at South Cariboo refuse sites that currently have no charges applied.
Early in 2014, a fee for commercial loads of demolition/construction debris and/or wood waste, depending on what the facility accepts, will potentially begin at South Cariboo refuse sites.
In addition, the tipping fees for mixed waste at the South Cariboo Landfill (100 Mile House) will rise from $25 to $40 per tonne, and asbestos waste from $150 to $200 per tonne, with a minimum commercial charge of $200.
CRD chair Al Richmond says the South Cariboo Landfill Fees and Charges Bylaw is being adjusted to better reflect the actual costs associated with disposing of landfill materials.
A draft amended bylaw will be considered by the board at its December meeting.
A tipping fee schedule was introduced at the South Cariboo Landfill in 2009, he notes.
Transfer stations at Lac La Hache and Forest Grove, and landfills at Interlakes and Watch Lake, became gated, controlled sites, earlier this year.
CRD staff determined contractors continue to haul waste from 100 Mile House to these sites to avoid the 100 Mile tipping fees, so the board looked at applying the same fees at these other areas as discouragement.
The new fees proposed at these four sites will be equivalent to the South Cariboo Landfill, to encourage waste to be dropped off within the community where it originated.
Tipping fees at the newly-controlled facilities will be determined on a volume basis, Richmond explains, as it is "not practical" to install scales at the community dump sites.
According to the CRD staff, extensive records are available that relate vehicle size to the average weight of specific materials.
Contractors will be required to establish a solid waste account to use these facilities, and will receive regular invoices as appropriate.
There are no charges for recycling materials, Richmond notes, so the new tipping fee schedule for mixed waste at the South Cariboo Landfill provides commercial waste producers a financial incentive to recycle more materials to decrease their overall costs.
For example, if they have 10 tonnes of cardboard, rather than landfilling and paying the mixed waste tipping fees, they can recycle it free.
Fees also encourage the separation of clean wood waste. The handling and processing of contaminated wood waste is costly, as the contamination must be removed before it can be processed through incineration or chipping. A lower fee will be charged for clean wood waste versus contaminated loads, which must be land-filled.
"Ensuring the wood waste is clean significantly reduces operating costs. Contaminated wood waste will not be accepted at transfer stations, and contractors will have to truck the material to the nearest landfill."
The exemption for residential waste remains in effect at the South Cariboo Landfill for area residents to drop off up to 350 kilograms (772 pounds) at no charge.
While the bylaw could conceivably be passed by the board this year, the date for implementation has not been yet determined, but is expected early in the New Year.