Users of the Foothills dump will likely have to pay for the privilege later this year.
During preliminary budget discussions, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board members sitting as committee of the whole recommended the approval of a draft financial plan that could steer the solid waste budget towards including a $6 user fee for those with small loads.
The fee would be similar to those charged at the Vanway and Quinn Street transfer stations.
The 10-year plan outlines ways in which the district can deal with a funding shortfall stemming from a need to play catch up to meet government regulations surrounding the closure and post-closure care of the landfill.
By continuing on with the current model, the district would be facing a $21.4 million funding gap over the 10-year period.
In addition to adding a small-load user fee at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, the district is also proposing implementing a progressive tipping fee rate increase over the next seven years - which would eventually bring it from the current $57 per tonne to a maximum of $90 per tonne - and a gradual increase to the tax levy to "cushion any potential impacts should waste to landfill see dramatic changes in volume to landfill."
The regional solid waste management financial plan still has to be formally approved at an upcoming formal board of directors meeting. At that point, dump users could see the addition of the small load fee beginning July 1 following the approval of the 2013 budget in March and any subsequent necessary bylaw changes.
