The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has started conducting major upgrades to three waste facilities in Nakusp, Rosebery, and Slocan.
The work will replace aging infrastructure to increase site capacity and improve waste management efficiency in the area.
A media release from the RDCK stated that construction at the Nakusp Landfill is in progress now and will proceed until September, while work at the Rosebery and Slocan transfer stations will begin in the coming months.
Nakusp Landfill
The Nakusp Landfill upgrades will include the development of a new tipping area, addition of compacting bins, recycling area improvements, and upgrades to site roads, security, electric fencing, and gates. Little to no service impacts are expected during construction.
Access to the active face, waste transfer bins, wood waste, yard and garden, and metal drop-off areas are all expected to be maintained. Construction of the new tipping area is the first phase of work to transition the site from an operating landfill to a transfer station.
Landfilling at Nakusp will continue for approximately one more year as the RDCK prepares for final closure; at that time, the transfer station service will continue to serve the majority of the area’s waste disposal needs by transferring waste to the Ootischenia Landfill.
“As a small landfill, the Nakusp site has a significantly higher cost per tonne to manage waste than larger landfills,” said Uli Wolf, RDCK Environmental Services General Manager.
“Further, the next phase of landfilling at Nakusp would require building a mandatory base liner and leachate collection system, which would move the cost per tonne in Nakusp well beyond a reasonable level for our residents.”
Rosebery Transfer Station
The upgrades at the Rosebery Transfer Station include the addition of a compactor bin, expansion of the tipping area to include a yard and garden waste bin, adjustment to the access road, and installation of site surveillance.
This work is scheduled to commence in August and continue through to October.
Slocan Transfer Station
Work at the Slocan Transfer Station is scheduled to commence in early October and be completed by late December. The facility’s aging bin wall will be replaced and a new staff washroom installed.
The work at the Rosebery Transfer Station and Slocan Transfer Station will be done in succession, and each site will be temporarily closed during construction.
The RDCK said it will accommodate service disruptions through increased hours of operation and staffing at the closest neighbouring facility for both waste and recycling.
The RDCK will post a simplified project schedule along with other updates as they occur on its website.
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