Photo: Contributed

It is addition by subtraction for the residential curbside collection and disposal rates for residents in Castlegar.

As a self-funded service, the solid waste program operated by the City of Castlegar sends out bills every three months to cover the costs of garbage collection, organics collection, recycling pickup and disposal, as well as operating the yard waste facility.

On March 17 an amendment passed third reading — with adoption set for March 31 — by city council on a proposal to decrease the annual rate for a single-family dwelling by $8.74 for curbside collection and disposal services.

The decrease comes despite tipping fees (waste disposal) increasing by 10 per cent — effective Jan. 1 — at the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) disposal site south of the city.

To maintain revenues adequate to cover tipping fee increases, a city staff report to council from Aimee Uhlenbrauck, city manager of financial services.

noted, it was necessary to fund an increase in the waste management contract, and other budgeted inflationary increases, by an increase to garbage and organics collection and disposal fees.

However, on Dec. 2, 2024, when council was presented an updated “Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work” with MMBC Recycle Inc. (Recycle B.C.) for the curbside collection of recycled materials, it included an increase in the financial incentive that is provided by Recycle B.C.

“The agreement has been executed and results in a significant decrease in the proposed rates for recycling collection,” the report noted.

In addition, at the Dec. 16, 2024, city council meeting, council opted to close the yard waste facility effective March 31, 2025. This resulted in a decrease in the yard waste facility fee required to fund three months of operations, and it will be eliminated in 2026.

Each year, proposed rates are presented to council for adoption to accommodate any changes associated with providing the collection and disposal services, such as changes in tipping (waste disposal) fees from the RDCK, price changes in the city’s agreement with the curbside collection contractor, and other operating expenses incurred by the city.

Uhlenbrauck said a delay in adopting collection and disposal rates this year — due to execution of the “Master Services Agreement” and the decision on the closure of the yard waste facility — will result in rate changes that will become effective effect April 1, 2025 and will be reflected on Castlegar resident’s quarter two utility bill (issued in July 2025).