Curbside organics collection is coming closer to reality for Invermere as the district outlines its plan to roll out the program.
According to Invermere officials, compostable material makes up 30 per cent of the community’s waste.
With the new curbside collection program, food waste, pizza boxes, kitty litter, wooden cutlery and other items will be taken to a newly constructed composting facility rather than a landfill.
“The regional district has set up an organics program and we have an organics site in Invermere, near our lagoons. To go along with that, we are going to go along with curbside collection,” said Mayor Al Miller.
District staff will begin delivering carts to residential addresses that receive other curbside collection services throughout Invermere in May.
Miller says District council had to make extra considerations when they chose the types of bins to ensure they would be animal-resistant.
“The bins have a fairly sturdy build to them with a chunk of steel around the top where the fastening devices are,” said Miller.
“If something comes along and knocks a bin over to try getting into it, the lid will not easily open. They’re fairly impact-proof, but they’re not bear-proof. We would have to spend a lot more money for that option, but they are at least bear-resistant.”
Once the bins are delivered in May, curbside organics collection will begin in June.
In September, garbage and recycling will be picked up bi-weekly and organics will be collected weekly.
District officials say the organic waste will be converted into compost soil that will be used for municipal projects.
Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyEastKootenayNow News Alerts.
