CloseChanges for Solid Waste Services
Tags:
2025
| News Release
Date Released: December 15, 2025
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is updating disposal fees at its solid waste facilities and introducing new fees for a potential two-year furniture recycling pilot program. These changes follow the Board’s approval of a new disposal fees bylaw on December 11, effective January 1, 2026.
“These updates reflect actual service costs and help us expand programs that protect valuable landfill space,” says Marc Sole, Manager of Solid Waste Services. “Adding furniture recycling and adjusting food and wood waste fees are practical steps toward a more sustainable, cost-effective system.”
The Sechelt Landfill is due to reach capacity in the next four to six years. The SCRD is currently updating the region’s solid waste management plan to help plan for the next decade of solid waste disposal. Learn more and provide your input at letstalk.scrd.ca/trash.
What’s changing with disposal fees?
Food Waste (Pender Harbour Transfer Station)
- Remove extra weight limit categories
- Have one “Food Waste” category at $180 per tonne (minimum $5 charge still applies).
Wood Waste (Pender Harbour Transfer Station)
- Clean Wood Waste: $170 → $240 per tonne
- Treated/Dirty Wood Waste: $265 → $340 per tonne
Scrap Metal
- Planned fee increases for 2026 and 2027 cancelled.
(Current fees of $170 per tonne will remain due to lower service costs.)
Furniture Recycling – Pilot Program
- This initiative is included as part of a proposed 2026 budget item. If the program is not approved, the associated new tipping fees will not apply.
Proposed per-item fees:
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
| Couch, armchair, loveseat | $15 | $25 |
| Couch (3+ seats) | $20 | $30 |
| Child car seat | $10 | $15 |
| Small upholstered furniture | $10 | $15 |
| Sofa bed / pullout couch incl. mattress; reclining couch/loveseat; massage chair | $40 | $50 |
| Foam pads / mattress toppers | $10 | $15 |
| Medical bed | $50 | $60 |
Why the Changes?
- Food Waste: Current revenue ($6,000–$7,500/year) doesn’t cover costs. New fees and commercial use will improve sustainability.
- Wood Waste: Recycling costs have increased — fees adjusted to recover costs.
- Scrap Metal: New agreement lowered costs—no fee hikes needed.
- Furniture: Diverting bulky items saves landfill space (about 15 days of landfill life per year). Fees partly fund the cost and eco-fee reserves are proposed to be used to keep the pilot affordable; broader funding options will be reviewed in 2026.
For more information on the fees and what materials are accepted at the landfill, visit www.scrd.ca/landfill