Biosolid hauling costs more

Photo: Contributed - Friends of Nicola Valley

A protest over the dumping of biosolids in Merritt could cost Central Okanagan taxpayers more than $350,000.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan approved the additional expense Monday for the transport and disposal of biosolids from the Westside sewage treatment plant.

Because of the ongoing protest, the regional district has been prevented from delivering biosolids to a contractor's approved composting site, west of Merritt. 

It's estimated that hauling the materials farther for disposal to an approved location previously used in the rural area outside Clinton could potentially cost $356,000 more than initially budgeted. 

The draft budget was based on cost savings achieved through contracted composting at the Nicola Valley site. 

In light of the situation, the budget increase is similar to the higher rate approved last year by the board to cover hauling costs for biosolids to Clinton.

In September of last year, the RDCO awarded a contract for removal of biosolid materials to BioCentral, a company located in the Fraser Valley.

The five-year contract was worth slightly more than $1.15 million.