Noremac Group introduces commercial garbage pickup services in Sun Peaks

As local businesses prepare for upcoming restrictions at the Sun Peaks Transfer Station, Noremac Group is introducing commercial garbage pickup services to help businesses manage their waste. 

The company, which already provides garbage collection services in Kamloops and Salmon Arm, began offering commercial waste collection in Sun Peaks on Nov. 1, with plans to expand its services as the community continues to grow and the restrictions get implemented.

Marcel Jittler, chief operating officer of Noremac Group, said the company was initially approached by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to put together a proposal for waste collection services in the community. 

“We saw there was an opportunity to help out with the change in the [Thompson-Nicola Regional District] rules, so that prompted us to talk to the customers and provide a service for them,” Jittler said. 

The new service comes ahead of changes to the Sun Peaks Transfer Station, which are currently scheduled to take effect June 1, 2027. The restrictions were originally scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026 and will limit use of the transfer station to passenger vehicles carrying a maximum of six bags of garbage per day. 

While commercial waste will still be accepted within those limits, businesses generating larger quantities will need to arrange alternative disposal services or transport their waste to another facility. 

The changes have raised concerns among local business owners about the potential increase in waste disposal costs and the logistical challenges associated with transporting garbage outside the community. 

Normac Group will provide commercial garbage collection by hand and through waste collection totes, building on services the company already provides in Sun Peaks. 

“We already do construction waste, portable toilets, and  site fencing up at Sun Peaks,” he said. “So it kind of fits good into our wheelhouse.”

The company has also hired Norman (Norm) McNeilly, a Sun Peaks local who has been providing garbage collection services in the community for several years. Jittler said Noremac Group has provided McNeilly with a more efficient truck and additional staff support to improve the efficiency of the service. 

“He’s been providing the service for numerous years, and we’ve just adopted him and brought him on to do the same thing,” Jittler said. 

The company is currently providing garbage collection services to several local businesses, including Bottoms Bar & Grill, the Sun Peaks staff housing, Cahility Lodge and the Taphouse. 

During the busy season, pickups can be arranged three to four times a week, depending on the needs of individual businesses. Businesses will also be able to arrange pickups as needed without entering into long-term contracts.

Future costs remain uncertain

Although the company is preparing for the upcoming transfer station restrictions, Jittler said the cost of commercial garbage collection will remain unchanged for the time being. 

Once the new restrictions come into effect, the company will need to reevaluate its pricing to account for transporting waste to Kamloops and potentially purchasing larger, more efficient equipment. 

The company plans to use the upcoming winter season to collect information on how much waste local businesses are generating before determining what future pricing adjustments may be necessary, Jittler said. 

“The cost of the service once the new restrictions come in are unknown at the moment,” he said. 

While the company anticipates future cost increases, Jitttler said its goal is to keep the service as affordable and efficient as possible. 

Plans for expanded services

Alongside commercial garbage collection, Noremac Group is planning to expand its waste management services to include additional recycling and organics collection options. 

Currently, the company collects general waste and cardboard, with plans to introduce mixed recycling collection, including cardboard and plastics as well as separate glass collection sometime next year. The company is also preparing to introduce organics collection in anticipation of additional regional waste management requirements expected in late 2027. 

The company is waiting for further clarification from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District regarding future transfer station restrictions before establishing long-term contracts with businesses. 

“Our plan is to stick with it and grow with the community and make it more efficient and cost effective as possible and cleaner,” he said. 

For business owners concerned about how they will manage their waste once the new restrictions take effect, Jittler said the company is committed to continuing its services. 

“They don’t have to worry that their service is not going to go away,” he said. “We’re committed to doing the service.”