WR1.4Work with the RDCO on expanding the organics program to include residential curbside food waste collection.

A Food Waste Feasibility Study commissioned by the RDCO (2021) identified the best option to manage food waste for our curbside customers is to include it with current curbside yard waste carts for composting. The study estimated that 7,000 tonnes of curbside collected food waste per year could be diverted from the 32,000 tonnes of curbside collected garbage disposed of annually.

The Utility Services Department took a Report to Council on June 9, 2025, regarding adding food waste to the materials collected in the City of Kelowna’s curbside organics collection program. Council did not support the City of Kelowna’s participation in the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s proposed Curbside Food Waste Program at this time due to the estimated cost impacts, uncertainty in the implementation and a preference to consider impacts to the program from commercial food waste and the growing percentage of multi-family units in the city from the infill housing programs.