THURSDAY
S I N C E
MARCH 20, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 45
105
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INCLUDING G.S.T.
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
New recycling program coming soon
DAFFODIL CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF FIRST DAY OF SPRING
BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
The province’s new recycling program is only two months away and the new regulations have some of B.C.’s business community up in arms while the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB), the municipal agency that has been responsible for providing recycling services up until now, maintains that residents probably won’t notice much of a difference. “The changes coming May 19 are mostly administrative, part of a regulatory change from the province,” said Tim Dueck, solid waste program coordinator for the RDKB. “It’s changing to a stewardship model, where industry has to take care of the recycling of materials they produce.” Under the new regulations, the “The changes responsibility for the coming May cost of dealing with recyclable materi19 are mostly als shifts from local administrative, governments, who part of a covered the cost of recycling through regulatory tax revenues, to the change from the businesses that proprovince.” duce the materials. However, the TIM DUECK stewardship model of managing waste is not new by any means. There are numerous materials the people use everyday that are already managed by similar, producer-managed systems. Soft drink containers, beer and alcohol cans and bottles, electronics, oil and anti-freeze, batteries, paints and solvents, and tires are but a few items that have been recycled through provincially-regulated, industry-managed programs for years. Under the new regulations a number of materials that were previously forbidden from the ubiquitous curb-side blue boxes, such as milk cartons, foam packaging, aluminum foil packaging, plastic film packaging, and drink cups, will now be allowed to be put out with the rest of the household recycling. While residents and regional bodies may welcome the changes to the system, a coalition of B.C. business stakeholder groups are voicing strong objections to the regulatory changes, prompting them to back a province-wide advertising campaign to protest being asked to shoulder the cost of recycling printed paper and packaging. See BUSINESS, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
The Canadian Cancer Society is kicking off its fresh daffodil campaign today, the first day of spring. The yellow blooms will be sold in bunches throughout Trail until Saturday, and at Liberty Foods in Fruitvale Saturday only. Deb Shergold has been organizing the local fundraiser for years with a goal to raise community awareness about the many resources available through the society for families affected by cancer.
Business as usual at rec facilities BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
It’s been business as usual at the Trail aquatic centre even though for the last three months, a number of users were subject to double the fees to swim or work out. The fee hike came on the heels of neighbouring communities opting not to renew a recreational cost sharing agreement with the City of Trail. “Anecdotally, the facility and programs appear to be more or less as busy,” said Trisha Davison, the city’s parks and recreation director. “It won’t be for several months that we will be able to see the full impact of the decisions from the
surrounding communities.” Since Warfield council’s March 13 decision to follow the direction of the three-person Beaver Valley recreation committee and end further recreational cost sharing with Trail, citing a lack of information about facility usage, the city is facing a budgetary shortfall nearing $300,000. Information about who is accessing Trail recreation facilities and where that person is from is detailed and not simple to pull, explained Davison. “Quarterly financial reviews will provide some information but again this will not paint a full picture,” she said. “Until things settle down with the region
and we have long periods of time where decisions are stable it will be difficult to provide that information.” Instead of annual contributions to Trail for a regional service, all four communities opted to launch a reimbursement program for its residents. Citizens in Area A, Fruitvale, Montrose and now Warfield pay twice the fees of a Trail resident at the city’s facilities, then wait for reimbursement from Beaver Valley Recreation and, now, the Village of Warfield. So far,105 residents have registered for reimbursement and 124 passes and programs have been subsidized in the See REIMBURSEMENT, Page 3
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There is a Special Offer coming your way
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
The Trail Times has hired circulation sales representatives Hans Straub, Chris Hopkyns Quitcy Macaulay to undertake a subscription drive. They will be calling on you to offer subscription prices for the Trail area at substantial savings over regular subscription prices. Offer not available at the Times Office
CHRIS HOPKYNS
HANS STRAUB
QUITCY MACAULAY