City of Kamloops collects 30,000 kilograms of organic waste in first three weeks of pilot program
KAMLOOPS — The Curbside Organic Waste Collection Pilot Program has collected 32,500 kilograms of organic waste in its first three weeks, according to the City of Kamloops.
Since the pilot program began on Sept. 20, the City says the biggest change for residents participating is the shift to biweekly garbage and recycling collection. Organics carts are collected weekly, while garbage and recycling carts are now collected on an alternating biweekly basis.
“Our research into other municipalities with organics programs showed other communities have successfully adapted to biweekly garbage collection. Approximately 42 per cent of household trash can be composted as organic waste, so placing that waste into the organics cart means less garbage overall, and in turn that supports a shift to biweekly garbage collection,” Kamloops Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow says.
Farrow says recycling collection varies in other communities and the City is testing biweekly recycling collection. If it works and residents can adjust to biweekly recycling, Farrow says the City can minimize costs.