Kelowna

Go slow on organizing a Trash To Treasure day in Kelowna, Coun. Brian Given warns.

"Let's take a step back," Given said as council wound down its discussion this week on running a pilot project on the concept in the near future.

"The intent is good, but a lot of issues go with this idea. We need to do some research and see how good the idea actually is."

The trash-to-treasure concept has homeowners putting unwanted items such as furniture out at the curb on a specified day that others may take for free.

The point of the effort is to reduce the amount of materials ending up at the landfill.

"I'm hearing some caution," Mayor Sharon Shepherd commented in summarizing council's debate.

Some councillors objected to the estimated $12,500 cost of the effort, and others expressed concern about negative impacts on local thrift stores.

A staff report to council noted that the city's Waste Reduction Office had considered such an event in the past, but had concluded that "the potential for high cleanup costs (was) thought to outweigh the benefits".

Council agreed to consider a pilot project for Spring, 2010, and will also solicit regional board interest in holding a region-wide event.