600 fouled fridges collected so far from evacuees

Photo: Christa Schadt

Fridges and freezers damaged during the White Rock Lake fire outside the home of Christa Schadt

Residents of the North Westside only have a few days left to arrange pickup of contaminated refrigerators and freezers from homes left empty for weeks due to evacuation orders.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan advises that booking curbside collection of fridges and freezers will end at noon on September 16. All affected residents that have not had their fridge or freezer collected should call 1-855-238-9350 by noon Thursday.

Drop off is still available at the gravel pit above the North Westside Transfer Station on Sugar Loaf Mountain Forest Service Road until noon Friday, September 17.

After that, residents will have to take fridges and freezers to either the Westside Resident Waste Disposal and Recycling Centre at 2640 Asquith Road, Planet Earth Recycling at 1400 Industrial Road, or Glenmore Landfill, 2710 John Hindle Drive. Or you can keep them until the free drop off at the Fall Bulky Collection Event at the North Westside Road Transfer Station, but that’s not until mid-October.

RDCO manager of engineering services Travis Kendel said approximately 600 of the appliances have been collected since people were allowed back in their homes following the lifting of evacuation orders issued due to the White Rock Lake wildfire.

The North Westside Transfer Station on Sugar Loaf Mountain Forest Service Road will continue to remain open daily 8 a.m, until noon for the month of September, for other waste disposal from cleanup of fire and smoke damage and contamination.

The North Westside Transfer Station is only open to RDCO residents, property owners and tenants. For residents outside the Regional District of Central Okanagan please contact your local government.