Latest NEWS!:

March 2, 2026: Survey 1 is NOW open!

The first public engagement opportunity, in the form of a survey and online ideas gathering, is now open until midnight, Sunday April 5^th. You can provide input using one (or both) of these two options:

• More detailed: Complete the online SURVEY to respond to 31 questions, which will take about 15 minutes. Survey questions will cover aspects of current services and ideas for improvement.
• Short and sweet: Use the Big Ideas tab at the bottom of this page to answer one quick but important question.

Paper versions of the survey are also available at locations throughout the RDKB. Please check at your local municipal offices, RDKB landfill and transfer station sites as well as RDKB Offices in Trail and Grand Forks to find paper copies of the survey.

Please skim through the Technical Memorandum 1 (TM1) summary before providing input (helpful but not necessary). The full TM1 includes more detailed information about solid waste management plans (SWMPs), regional data, an overview of RDKB services and facilities, and progress on the policies/strategies from the 2005 SWMP.

Please also help promote this engagement opportunity through your networks.

Thank you for your interest in regional waste management and helping us find ways to improve it.

Project Overview

The RDKB is updating the region’s Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) along with Sperling Hansen Associates to guide waste avoidance, reduction, and management for the next 10 years. The current SWMP, approved in 2005, requires updating to:

• Set the legal framework for managing waste, recycling, and waste reduction/diversion

• Evaluate how current systems are performing

• Recommend improvements, including opportunities to move toward zero waste

The SWMP update (completion expected summer 2027) will be shaped by:

• Engagement with:

  • Members of the public

  • Interested parties (e.g., organizations and businesses)

  • A Public and Technical Advisory Committee

  • Other government agencies (e.g., school districts, member municipalities)

  • First Nations
    See the next section for more details about engagement.

• Direction from RDKB staff and elected officials

• Review of past work including successes and lessons learned from the 2005 SWMP and the 2013 update process (paused due to regulatory changes)

• Leading practices from other jurisdictions

• Provincial requirements under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) and the provincial Guide to Solid Waste Management Planning (Ministry of Environment, 2016), including:

  • Solid waste management principles

  • The pollution prevention hierarchy

  • A circular economy approach
    See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Engagement by Project Phase

Engagement is essential to ensuring the updated SWMP meets the needs of the region. The phases and timelines below outline the project’s engagement activities.

Stay tuned to RDKB channels— Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn,—and watch/listen for newspaper and radio advertisements for upcoming public engagement opportunities.

Read our launch press release on our news page: RDKB Latest News

Phase 1: Set the Direction

Winter 2025 – Spring 2026

Activities include:

• Collecting population and growth projection data

• Creation of Public and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) - Applications closed Jan 9th

• Gathering public input on:

  • Draft principles and goals

  • What has worked and what has not

  • Ideas for future strategies

Phase 2: Evaluate Options

Summer 2026

Activities include:

• Identifying feasible strategies

• Evaluating their potential for inclusion in the updated SWMP

• Gathering public input on the list of potential strategies

Phase 3: Plan Preparation and Submission

Winter 2026 –Spring 2027

Activities include:

• Finalizing the SWMP with public input

• Submitting the completed plan to the Ministry for approval

• Formal adoption and implementation by the RDKB once approved