Curbside recycling is slated to arrive in Merritt in Spring 2013, Public Works Superintendent Darrell Finnigan announced on Friday.

The introduction of curbside in other communities has led to a surge in people thinking green.

“We expect a huge decline in garbage when curbside starts,” said Darrell Finnigan, public works superintendent. “There’s a lot of people waiting for this.”

Curbside was initially slated to be added to the Merritt disposal force this spring, but setbacks with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District pushed the schedule behind by a year.

Finnigan said his department received late warning, and the automated truck that can accommodate recycling was already purchased.

“We found out in the fall of 2011 that the TNRD was unable to complete their side and so we’re running a year behind,” he said. “We are ready to go when they are.”

Don May, manager of environmental health services for the TNRD said his staff “lost a whole construction season.”

May was told the district would receive $9.4 million in funding from the Building Canada Fund, but the money wasn’t delivered.

The TNRD didn’t receive a signed confirmation of the money until last month, May said.

The EcoDepot addition to the Lower Nicola Landfill will cost approximately $1 million.

“It will be like a one-stop drop. We’ll try to have everything you need, plus more.”

In Merritt, the curbside system will augment the self-dump recycling already in place on Main Street.

“The recycling facility will stay as it is and it will likely become bigger for businesses,” Finnigan said.

He said he expects recycling in Merritt to increase by two or three times.

The expected garbage decrease will lower tipping fees and the amount taxpayers dedicate to disposal.

Each recycling bin holds approximately 240 litres.

Kamloops rolled out curbside recycling in 2008 and the crew there has worked with Merritt public works to teach the local crew how to pick up recycling.

Residents are slated to receive a door hanger, as well as public service announcements closer to the initiation of curbside next year.

Residents are slated to be eased into the transition similar to the rollout of the new garbage program that is scheduled to begin early in March.