Big White Transfer Station
Thank you to everyone who took the time to assist the RDKB in setting the hours of operation for the Big White Transfer Station.
As presented at the Town Hall on March 6, 2024 the new Hours of Operation for the Big White Transfer Station will be as follows (starting July 1, 2024):
July 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024
- Open: Wednesday, Friday through Monday, Statutory Holidays (5 days per week)
- 9:30am-5:30pm
- Closed: Tuesday, Thursday
November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025 (Winter Hours)
- Open: Monday through Sunday, Statutory Holidays (7 days per week)
- 9:30am-5:30pm
May 1, 2025 - October 31, 2025 (Summer Hours)
- Open: Wednesday, Friday through Monday, Statutory Holidays (5 days per week)
- 9:30am-5:30pm
- Closed: Tuesday, Thursday
We understand change is not easy and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we move through the transition process. Please help spread the word regarding the upcoming changes to operation of the facility.
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Big White Transfer Station Hours of Access - The Surveys
Second Survey: Hours of Operation Schedule
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the second survey associated with assisting in setting the Hours of Operation for the Big White Transfer Station. The second survey closed on February 23 and a summary of the results are as follows (please note a full report of the survey results can be found on this page under “Documents”):
- A total of 123 responses were received.
- The top three ranked Options for hours were as follows:
Option 1 – Average rank 3.69 Estimated Cost - $ 182,880.00 (Increase to $11.21 per $100,000)
- Winter / Summer - 7 days / week @ 8 hrs / day (9am-5pm, Open Statutory Holidays).
Option 2 – Average Rank 3.90 Estimated Cost - $ 127,200.00 (Increase to $7.79 per $100,000)
- Winter - 5 days / week @ 8 hrs / day, 9am-5pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Statutory Holidays
- Summer – 4 days / week @ 8 hrs / day, 9am-5pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Statutory Holidays
- Extra Hours during Christmas and March Breaks include 7 days operation from 9am-5pm, Open Statutory Holidays
Option 4 – Average Rank 3.98 Estimated Cost - $ 114,300.00 (Increase to $7.00 per $100,000)
- Winter / Summer – 7 days / week @ 5 hrs / day, 10am-3pm, Open Statutory Holidays
- Only 21% of respondents indicated that it was not important at all for the transfer station to be open on Statutory Holidays.
Original Survey: Provide Your Feedback
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the original survey associated with hours of operation of the Big White Transfer Station.
As of the closing date of the survey (February 7, 2024) a total of 116 surveys were received. The results of the survey are posted on this page.
Based on the information provided in the survey, the RDKB has come up with a total of 8 options of hours for further consideration. A second survey is being launched on February 9, 2024, and will have a closing date of February 23, 2024, to allow for the results to be included in the budget development process. The results of the second survey will be posted on this page and the New Hours of Operation Schedule for the Big White Transfer Station will be presented at the Electoral Area E – Big White Town Hall on March 6th, 2024.
Please note: The new hours of operation for the Big White Transfer Station will not go into affect until July 1st, 2024. This will give property owners enough time to educate their guests and produce a plan to address their specific solid waste needs based on the new transfer station hours.
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How Did We Come Up with the Proposed Hours?
The draft 2024-2028 Financial Plan for the Big White Refuse Service (064) includes a line item associated with operation and maintenance of the Big White Transfer Station. For 2024, the total budget was increased by 5% from the previous year and has a value of $110,250. Of this value $92,750 has been currently allocated to cover the costs of the hours of operation of the Big White Transfer Station. The remaining monies are assumed to be used for such things as site clean-up and facilitating two “bulky” items clean up days (one in the spring and another in the fall).
The RDKB would like to provide as many open hours as possible based on the available budget. Based on the survey results however, we are also wanting to provide options that exceed the current available budget, to see whether the community feels the additional hours and costs are warranted.
For each option, the RDKB has estimated costs associated with the number of days and hours per day the Transfer Station would be open. THESE COSTS ARE ESTIMATES ONLY, meaning that these are an approximate calculation or judgement of value. Actual costs will only be known once pricing from contractors is received for proposed services.
We have heard and respect the frustrations regarding the transition of the Big White Transfer Station, and we understand change is not easy. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we move through the transition process.
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Background
The Big White Transfer Station is currently an unattended transfer station which is open 24/7. This operational model creates challenges with inappropriately dumped materials as well as maintaining a clean and tidy facility that meets the expectations of local area residents.
Ongoing challenges were had in 2023 with the specialized fabric “break away” doors being non-operational. This resulted from problems with sourcing parts for repair in a timely fashion combined with resident frustration with the doors not working for extended periods of time.
On many occasions in 2023, users of the facility were propping the overhead doors open, which resulted in additional damage. In the fall, unfortunately two bears were able to access the inside of the transfer station.
The ongoing vandalism to the doors, the bins, and the facility in general has made it impossible to operate the Big White Transfer Station in a reasonable and acceptable manner as an unattended facility.
Transition to an ATTENDED facility: Your feedback is required to ensure it meets local need
The RDKB will be moving forward with transitioning the Big White Transfer Station to an attended facility with scheduled hours of access. A solution that balances fiscal responsibility, provides reasonable access and is environmentally sound needs to be implemented at Big White. The transition will happen on July 1, 2024.
The RDKB invites the residents of Big White and members of the public who use the Transfer Station to "Join the Conversation" and help the RDKB decide the scheduled hours of access.
The future of the Big White Transfer Station
The public will not be able to access the Transfer Station outside the scheduled hours of operation as the facility gates will be locked. The Transfer Station will be maintained and serviced by a Contractor, and the RDKB will be issuing a request for proposal on BCBid for the services.
In preparation for the Contractor to work out of the Transfer Station, the RDKB will update the existing Transfer Station. The upgrades will include the building of an office space, updating the interior and exterior lighting, and re-installing security cameras to the facility.
With the transition to an attended facility, the RDKB will be investigating further service improvements such as having “bulky” item pick up events and partnering with Extended Producer Responsibility programs (e.g., Large appliances, electronics). At this time, the RDKB will not be initiating tipping fees.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to put them in the Q & A section below - just click on the tab:
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