A plan to add food scraps to Kelowna’s curbside collection is likely to be shelved.
City staff are recommending against joining the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s (RDCO) proposed food waste program, saying the move doesn’t make financial or logistical sense at this time.
“There are significant uncertainties with location, design, technical features, and space requirements,” staff wrote in a report going to council on June 9. “These factors—combined with cost—make this the wrong time to proceed.”
The RDCO’s plan involves letting residents toss food waste into green bins, expanding yard waste pickup to weekly year-round, and reducing garbage collection to every other week. While 73 per cent of surveyed residents liked the idea, city staff say the math doesn’t work.
Kelowna households currently pay $198 per year for curbside collection. Adding food waste service would bump that up by $60 to $70—a 30 to 35 per cent increase.
The city’s Glenmore landfill already handles about 45,000 tonnes of organic material each year, but isn’t equipped to process food waste due to space, odour, and wildlife concerns. Staff say a new transfer station would be needed—estimated at $12 million, though likely higher in an urban setting.
Another challenge is future growth. About 65 per cent of new homes in Kelowna will be apartments, which aren’t part of the curbside program. Commercial waste from hotels, grocers, schools, and restaurants wasn’t included in the proposal either.
Staff aren’t against the idea entirely. They’re asking council to revisit food waste collection in the 2030 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan, with a focus on including both multi-family and commercial sectors.
For now, though, the city isn’t ready to bite.
“Staff recommend not proceeding… due to the estimated cost impacts, uncertainty in the implementation, and a preference to consider impacts to the program from commercial food waste and the growing percentage of multi-family units.”
