The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is undertaking a major upgrade to the Sun Peaks Transfer Station with the installation of two new waste compactors, part of a move to improve site operations, reduce carbon emissions and enhance efficiency.
Installation work will begin Monday, July 28 and is expected to be completed by Sunday, Aug. 3. During this period, the site will remain open during regular hours, but users should anticipate changes to traffic flow, temporary bin relocations and longer-than-usual wait times.
“We’d like to encourage residents to be patient with us,” TNRD’s manager of solid waste and recycling, Adriana Mailloux said. “People will still be able to bring in their waste and recycling during construction, but there may be some delays, so please be observant, follow the signage and respect the directions from on-site staff.”
Customers looking to avoid potential delays are encouraged to postpone their visits until after Aug. 3 or to use the Heffley Creek Eco-Depot located at 7381 Sullivan Valley Rd.
The transfer station is getting two new compactor-style collection bins—one for household garbage and one for commercial cardboard recycling. These compactors will replace three current non-compacting bins.
“The current bins are just regular containers with no compaction,” Mailloux said. “That means there are air pockets and wasted space. The compactors will press the material down, allowing us to haul much more at a time.”
This change significantly improves hauling efficiency, reducing the number of trips needed to move waste and recyclables to landfills or processing facilities.
Environmental and operational benefits
Beyond better space management, the compactors offer meaningful environmental benefits.
“Reducing hauling trips cuts down on fuel consumption and emissions from trucks going up and down the mountain,” Mailloux said. “It’s a major improvement both for operations and for sustainability in the region.”
“We also appreciate the patience of customers during the week of installation,” Mailloux added.
What’s next?
While no additional upgrades have been confirmed for the site, TNRD staff mentioned discussions around a possible expansion of the video surveillance system in the future.
For now, the focus is on successfully completing the compactor installation and ensuring residents can continue using the transfer station safely and efficiently during the process.For more information on hours of operation and accepted materials at the Sun Peaks Transfer Station, visit tnrd.ca/depothours.
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
