Kamloops council approved three readings of proposed bylaw changes which, if adopted, will allow the city to implement a curbside organics collection program for single-family residences.

The organics collection program will go before council for adoption next month.

In June, the committee of the whole discussed elements of the program, and had asked city staff to look into the possibility of using some Community Climate Action Plan funds to support the rollout.

On Tuesday, Glen Farrow, the city’s streets and environmental services manager, told council using CCAP funding is not recommended as it would delay the organics program rollout until 2024, and would slow the implementation of key climate action priorities — such as active transportation projects — which are dependent on the CCAP reserve.

“The whole idea of [the CCAP strategy] was to be supported through other sources, through property taxes and grants,” Farrow said.

“Separately, the solid waste reserve — as we've established over the past decade — is ensuring that the user fees we have in place such as landfill tipping fees and collection rates, that particular money goes into solid waste reserves to fund any and all initiatives for solid waste as well as stabilizing rates.”

Farrow told council a delay in the organics collection rollout beyond 2024 would make the city ineligible for a $1.78 million grant that could be put towards the program.

The capital cost of the organics collection program is estimated to be $4 million. When accounting for grant funding, the city will only need to pay the balance of $2.2 million from its solid waste reserve.

New annual operating costs — $600,000 per year for additional staff and equipment — will be offset by the new organics collection utility.

“That full amount would be fully offset by the new organics collection utility, which works out to $1 a month for each each and every property owner,” Farrow said.

“And the other rate increase that we're proposing through the a new bylaw update would be another increase to the 360L garbage container.”

Farrow said organics collection will allow residents to divert material from the landfill.

“In this case, if you still need larger capacity, you would ultimately continue to pay for that larger capacity. So those new revenues would offset the expenses of that additional equipment and staff on the operating side for for this program,” Farrow said.

Staff estimated that collecting organic waste from residential homes would reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 9,454 tonnes per year.

If the city will need to transport organic waste to another community for disposal, staff said the amount of greenhouse gas emissions would be negligible in comparison.

Council voted 8-1 in favour of passing the bylaw changes authorizing the program through three readings. Coun. Mike O’Reilly was opposed.

The organics program will go before council for adoption on Aug. 16.