Prince George, B.C. – City Council has had an opportunity to look at the Waste Management Plan developed by the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

 

The plan is now into the public consultation stage, and this evening’s presentation to Council will set the stage for further discussions.

 

The plan focuses heavily on recycling and calls for a curb side recycling program in Prince George, although the details on what would be recycled and how those items will be picked up or handled after collection have yet to be worked out. The curb side recycling could add $30-$40 dollars to each residential garbage collection bill.

 

The new Regional plan is aimed at extending the life of the Foothills Landfill by as much as 7 years.

 

While some of Council had an opportunity to look at the plan when it was presented to the Regional District Board of Directors last week, this was the first opportunity to make comments based solely on the plans impacts to the City. (to see highlights of the plan click here)  

 

Councilor Brian Skakun asked that  there be  plenty of attention paid to the  long range  cost preojections "I hope we have a long vision of what the costs willbe"said Skakun, "$30 or 40 dollars a year, on top of the sewar, garbage and water costs we already charge, and those rates increase more than I would like to see, so I hope there will be a long term vision of the costs."  Consultant Maura Wilson says the real variable in costs will be in transportation costs and no one can predict where those costs may go.

 

Councilor Don Zurowski says the City's been waiting for this for some time, specifically curbside recycling but in the cost comparisons there are no "winter cities". Wilson suggested Kamloops was the closest comparison for winter conditions, a comment which raised eyebrows around the Council table.  

 

The report has been referred to Administration to see how the plan might be  applied.

 

The plan will be up for public discussion this Thursday in Prince George at an open house at the Civic Centre.