DUMP THE DUMPSTERS PLAN A HIT

Tracey Richards used to watch people doing drugs from her office at
Doc Willoughby's Downtown Pub.

But with the dumpsters gone, so are the druggies.

"It's great. Getting rid of the garbage bins really cleaned up the
alley a lot," said Richards, manager of the Bernard Avenue pub.

It's that kind of success in the campaign to eliminate dumpsters
downtown that already has some businesses in the plan's second phase
taking interest.

Cruzwear, farther down Bernard, is in the area slated to become part
of the program on Oct. 1. However, owner Sheri Rothwell wouldn't mind
if it started earlier.

"I'm all for it, just to get it going. We're getting quotes," she said
Monday.

Tom Loewen, district manager for BFI Canada, said Monday a handful of
businesses in Phase 2 have contacted him about starting earlier than
Oct. 1.

"We're prepared to do that, but we're entering our busy period, so
we'll play it by ear," he said.

On March 1, the Downtown Kelowna Association, city hall and garbage
haulers co-operated in replacing dumpsters with daily pickup for the
area bounded by Abbott and Pandosy, Harvey Avenue and Queensway.

Downtown Kelowna Association executive director Clint McKenzie said
most of the 65 businesses in the first phase appear to be happy with
the results.

A lot of them are finding they pay $40 to $60 a month less, perhaps
because others were illegally putting garbage in their bins, he said,
although two or three restaurants are paying more than they expected
as they enter their high-volume season.

"We're pushing the garbage haulers earlier than they expected," said
McKenzie. "Those who still have dumpsters are being hit harder by
illegal dumping."

Richards said she recently spoke to a FortisBC contractor who was
impressed with the change.

"They think it's wonderful that the garbage bins are gone. During the
six months they worked here, they saw people defecating on the walls
and in the bins. Now it's fantastic. No one is hanging around; you
don't feel unsafe."

The lack of hiding places and loss of dumpster materials to sort
through has pushed some transients east toward the residential area,
however.

The Kelowna Boys and Girls Club centre on Richter Street has had
problems with people loitering around its dumpster, so it was removed
on Monday, even though the centre is in Phase 2.

The second phase involves the area from Phase 1 east to Bertram
Street, which has another 75 businesses.