THETIS ISLAND WASTE MANAGEMENT SURVEY

The Sanitation Committee of T.I.R.R.A. is asking for community input in deciding the next direction of our garbage and recycling pathway. Our current system has become unwieldy for one individual to manage and it appears to be non-sustainable. We are asking for your input to get an initial sense of the community pulse. A community meeting to present the cumulative feedback and discuss the options is being planned for late September. Several options were researched and the viable ones are detailed in a report that is posted on the Sanitation Committee’s Trash Talk page http://www.thetisisland.net/trash/index.htm. Note that Option 2 in the report (Curbside Recycling and Garbage pickup via a private hauler) has been retracted since no hauler was interested. The remaining options are briefly summarized below.  Please rank the three options and share any comments or questions/comments you may have. Please return completed surveys to Box 7-10 and/or send electronic comments to trash@thetisisland.net by September 24 so that they can be collated prior to the community meeting. 

Option A:  Current System
Current rates range from $25 to $100 per household/year with average payment of $75.00 per household/year (i.e., fair pricing with adjustable rate according to use). TIRRA is the collection agency. Contributions are voluntary with about 95% participation from households billed. Recycling is once/month manned by a paid person (Ron Bannister) supported through collection of garbage fees. System is currently running at max capacity so if volume increases, the present system is not viable (i.e., Ron won’t have a vehicle large enough to take recyclables across. Increased trips mean increased time and increased cost). Ron is unwilling to continue with this system, therefore continuance requires at least one willing individual with appropriate insured vehicles to commit for at least a year at a time to be the “paid person(s)” implementing the system.

Of the three options, my rank for Option A is (please indicate first, second or third):___________
Questions/Comments:

Option B: Curbside Recycling and Garbage Pick up via CVRD
CVRD would be the manager and collection agency. All households would pay for the system, i.e., no sliding scale for base payment to reflect household use (single vs. family, full-time vs. part-time). No volunteer hours would be required. Cost may be higher than other options (predicated at least double the cost of the current system but we will know more accurately by end of August). For CVRD to agree to do curbside garbage and recycling the majority of the islanders must agree as our area director must be convinced the majority of islanders are behind the proposal.

Of the three options, my rank for Option B is (please indicate first, second or third):___________
Questions/Comments:

Option C: Garbage and Recycling remaining on Thetis Island
Garbage would be kept at current location and a dedicated site for recycling would be expanded into the adjacent Highways yard (Highways has given permission for this). It could be always open or a “closed system” (open at certain times). Would require relatively heavy on-going demand for volunteers and someone to coordinate schedules. The following estimated costs (both infrastructure and on-going operations) would be incurred:
1	Fencing area - $10,000 (fencing is required by Highways for use of their land)
2	Shed to sort items - $5,000
3	Platform for 40-yard bins - $1,000
4	$100/month to rent one bin
5	$200/bin to have it picked up (estimated we will need to empty two 40 yard bins 3x/year)
6	If a “closed “system, volunteer or paid hours to man site when it is open and to help people sort, etc.  Cost depends on how often the site would to be open (1x/week or more). 

Of the three options, my rank for Option C is (please indicate first, second or third):___________
Questions/Comments: