To the editor:

I would like to urge the city to consider extending the yard waste pick up period. It clearly ends too soon to allow most households to complete the fall garden clean up. We have the same problem every year. Our last pick up was Nov. 17.

I have phoned in to talk to people about this and all I get is the stock answer, informing me of the hours of operation of the Glenmore landfill, and that yard waste can be disposed of at no charge.

From my south Kelowna neighbourhood, a trip to the land fill is a 40 kilometre round trip (twice through the middle of town) and takes most of a half day to carry out. Not to mention the expense and the contribution to pollution and congestion caused by the trip. All this assumes that you own a pick up truck and/or a utility trailer. With the ever increasing property taxes we pay, I think we are entitled to a better service.

Now we are informed that we will have a fee to pay next year for the privilege of responsible citizens. With the ever increasing urban sprawl, is one location for disposal still adequate? Why not have more locations (temporary or permanent) where it is more convenient to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner?

It would be more cost effective to provide alternative locations than to have to clean up in the bush.

I wonder why so many people find illegal dumping a viable alternative?

Richard Shepherd, Kelowna