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RDEK hopes $764,567 invoice raises attention
By Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) will be submitting an invoice for $764,567 to Multi-Material BC (MMBC) for costs associated with handling and processing recyclable materials that it should be handling.
The RDEK board of directors April 8 unanimously approved a request to forward the invoice to MMBC for collecting and processing recyclable materials that are identified in the Recycling Regulation of BC and part of the provincial government’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Plan operated by MMBC, reported Kevin Paterson, RDEK Environmental Services Manager.
“The Recycling Regulation of B.C.’s Environmental Management Act (2004) was amended in 2011 to “shift responsibility for end-of-life management of packaging and printed paper from governments and their taxpayers to the businesses that produce these materials. MMBC submitted its Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Plan, which the BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) approved in April 2013. In May 2014, the amendments to the regulation came into effect and MMBC’s collection system began operating in various communities in B.C.,” Paterson outlined in an April 4 request for decision report to the board.
According to the provincial government, as of May 2014, Multi-Material BC has the only approved stewardship plan for the collection and recycling of packaging and printed paper in B.C.
“Numerous meetings were held with MMBC in order to identify what types of service delivery were being considered for the East Kootenay communities and RDEK. Early on in the process it was identified that the current ‘Yellow Bin’ program operated by the RDEK to service the residents of the Kootenays would not fit MMBC’s model for service delivery. Thus the regional district was not permitted to engage with MMBC in any contract negotiations for service delivery. MMBC subsequently issued a request for proposals whereby only one submission was received. Because the submission was considered to be too expensive, no service was provided to residents of the Kootenays. To date the only East Kootenay disposal location funded by MMBC is operated out of the Cranbrook Bottle Depot. The RDEK has maintained recycling services to its residents through continued taxation and the provision of the Yellow Bin program,” Paterson explained.
His report detailed how he arrived at the $764,567 figure owed to the regional government, based around the RDEK’s 739 Yellow Bins throughout the East Kootenay. Bin locations were reviewed and a determination was made for each location as to the estimated percentage of commercial usage.
“After examining the 739 bin locations it was estimated that approximately 52% (3,370 tonnes) of recyclables collected were from a residential source,” Paterson said, adding in 2015 a total of 6,521 tonnes of recyclables were collected throughout the RDEK. The current contract to provide all services related to the Yellow Bin Program is $275/tonne to provide bins, collect, process and market recyclables. The 2015 average market price received for recyclables sold was $48/tonne for a net cost of $227/tonne. Therefore, in 2015, 3,370 tonnes were collected on MMBC’s behalf at a cost of $227/tonne, for a total of $764,567 spent by the RDEK in order to provide the service.”
While the regional board was unanimous in agreeing to forward the invoice to MMBC, some directors expressed their doubts at ever seeing it paid.
“This is a long standing file; it’s not expected to be paid, although fundamentally we feel it should be be,” said District of Invermere Mayor and RDEK board member Gerry Taft.
Regional taxpayers are paying “for a one size fits all” approach by MMBC, he added.
“Their model is based around the Lower Mainland and urban areas. They’ve been impossible to work with. We’re getting ripped off in the East Kootenay. I hope this invoice raises attention,” Taft said.
Board chair, Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay agreed.
“It’s been somewhat frustrating,” he said, noting MMBC’s focus is on enhancing services for the much-larger Lower Mainland.
“They left us out of the loop,” he said, pointing out other areas beyond Hope are also struggling with the Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Plan.
Gay said he isn’t optimistic the invoice will be paid. “Chances of seeing a cheque? I don’t see it,” he told the board.
