RDKB closes free refuse bin sites
By Shara JJ Cooper
Five free garbage and recycling bins in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) have been closed, as of May 1.
The bins were located at Larson Road and Texas Point in Christina Lake, Jewel Lake, Bridesville and Westbridge but now residents will have to travel to the nearest landfill to dispose of their waste.
Residents utilized these bins because they didn’t have to pay to dispose of their garbage like they would at a landfill. Although that wasn’t why the bins were originall distributed — they were all at boat access points.
“They were an anomaly,” explained Tim Dueck, Solid Waste Program Coordinator for the RDKB.
Users would leave everything including recyclable materials, toxic waste, electronics, tires and used oil to avoid paying the landfill fees.
“The materials were highly problematic,” said Dueck, noting that staff would have to clean up dangerous and toxic items that would also attract animals.
At their Jan. 31 meeting, the RDKB approved a new policy to close any of the free garbage and recycling bin locations that were within 30 minutes of a solid waste transfer station. It’s a move that Dueck says has been positively received by area residents.
The closures are part of a RDKB long-term plan to move to a cost-per-use system instead of a taxpayer supported system.
Now, all residents in the RDKB will have to pay the $95 a tonne that everyone else in the region has to pay. This will encourage residents to recycle and dispose of their refuse properly.
It will also help the RDKB with their budget since they won’t be losing money trying to empty — and clean up — free garbage bin locations.
Current transfer stations can be found at:
Christina Lake
Highway 395, three kilometres south of Highway 3.
Hours: Sat, Mon & Thurs, 10:00 to 3:00.
Open: July and August – Tues, 10:00 to 3:00
Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Statutory Holidays.
As of May 1st Sundays 10am to 7pm
Grand Forks and Area D
8798 Granby Road — two kilometres north of Highway 3
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday 12 to 4 p.m.
Closed: Mondays and statutory holiday
West Boundary – Greenwood
Deadwood Road, three kilometres from Highway 3
Open: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 to 4 p.m.
Closed: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and statutory holidays
Rock Creek
1610 Rock Creek Dump Road
Open: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
