Columbia Shuswap residents will pay more to dispose of waste at select landfills starting in 2026.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) directors voted in support of increasing tipping fees, rates charged when waste is dropped off at CSRD landfills and transfer stations, along with a new minimum fee at their Dec. 12 regular board meeting.
Effective May 1, 2026, the cost to dispose of refuse will rise to $100 per tonne, up from the current $90 per tonne. The fee for a mixed load that includes unrecycled material will increase to $350 per tonne from $270 per tonne.
A $5 minimum fee will also be implemented at all refuse disposal facilities. The regional district said the charge will help cover basic operating costs.
According to the CSRD, a minimum site user fee is common at the majority of B.C. Regional Districts. They added that despite the rise in costs, these new tipping fees remain on the lower end of the scale, compared to other regional districts in the province.
“The change is that the regulations are designed to continue with the user-pay funding model, which rewards people for disposing less. At the same time, we must account for the cost of maintaining our landfills today and for future closure costs,” Ben Van Nostrand, General Manager, Environmental and Utility Services, said.
There will be some exemptions to the minimum fee. It will remain free to drop off:
- residential recyclable materials (access to the recycling bins)
- invasive plants
- yard and garden waste (with an approved FireSmart waiver only)
- bagged refuse ($3 per bag)
- books and clothing for recycling
- household hazardous waste.
The board also discussed charging a flat rate of $5 for the disposal of yard and garden waste that is not part of the approved FireSmart program. Instead, directors opted for a seasonal approach, allowing free disposal during the spring and fall.
“With these increases, we tried to balance the need to properly fund our facilities with the common goals of reducing waste, working to FireSmart our communities, and properly disposing of hazardous materials,” Van Nostrand added.
Details about the seasonal yard waste program will be determined and announced in 2026.
