Following a detailed service review, public survey, series of workshops and input from the RDEK Board, the Draft Rural Transfer Station Optimization Plan has been developed and is now available for public review and comment.
“The way the region handles its garbage and recycling services at many of our rural transfer stations will be changing as the yellow bin recycling program comes to an end at the end of December 2027,” explains RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay. “This plan is aimed at establishing service levels at our rural sites in the Central and Columbia Valley Subregions as we transition away from the yellow bin program and work to maximize waste diversion while maintaining reasonable public access to services.”
The Elk Valley Subregion does not have any rural transfer stations and is therefore not included in the Optimization Plan.
Following public engagement earlier this year and a series of workshops, the RDEK Board reviewed a detailed Options Analysis at its July Board Meeting before making recommendations on service levels to be included in the Optimization Plan. Those changes have now been incorporated, and the draft plan is available for public review and comment.
“It is important for residents to understand this is a two-stage process. The Optimization Plan, which is the stage we are at now, establishes service levels for the rural transfer station system. It does not speak to specifics such as operating days or hours. Those specifics will be part of a future implementation phase that will include a separate opportunity for additional public input,” adds RDEK Environmental Services Manager Jeff Blanchard.
The Draft Rural Transfer Station Optimization Plan, a summary of proposed changes for the Central and Columbia Valley Subregions, an online comment form and additional reports and information are available at engage.rdek.bc.ca/ruraltransferstations.
The comment period closes September 20, 2026. Anyone who cannot access the online comment form can contact the RDEK to provide comments by phone or request a hard copy.
The draft plan is expected to return to the RDEK Board in October for review and adoption.
