Radium Hot Springs Transfer Station

The Challenge

A local, full-service drop-off for Radium and Area G

Residents of the Village of Radium Hot Springs and RDEK Electoral Area G had limited options close to home for household garbage and recycling. The Regional District of East Kootenay wanted a new transfer station in the village that would take residential waste and offer a much wider range of recycling than its roadside yellow bins.

The site, on industrial land beside the village’s wastewater treatment plant and a working log yard, had to be built up with engineered fill and laid out so the public could unload safely and efficiently.

Our Approach

A raised drop-off wall, designed and built to last

• Site layout and grading: a graded site plan for the public drop-off area, with room for roll-off bins, the Recycle BC depot and recycling areas.
• Stepped drop-off wall: a lock-block retaining wall reinforced with geogrid, with five lower reinforced concrete bin pads and an upper concrete walkway, railings and gates, so residents unload straight down into bins without climbing or lifting.
• Drainage and stability: a drain rock chimney drain and perforated drain pipe behind the wall to relieve pore water pressure, over compacted pit run fill.
• Drawings and specifications: design drawings and technical specifications for the site works and drop-off wall.
• Cost estimating: a detailed construction cost estimate for the drop-off wall to support the RDEK’s budgeting.
• Construction support: field guidance through construction, with repeat drone surveys and cut and fill comparisons to track earthworks against the design grades.

The Outcome

Open seven days a week

The Radium Transfer Station opened on July 2, 2025. Alongside household garbage, it offers a full Recycle BC depot, a household hazardous waste depot, used oil, electronics and battery recycling, and dedicated drop-off areas for appliances, propane tanks, yard waste, metals and wood.

The RDEK is paid by Recycle BC for the materials collected through its depot, helping offset operating costs while keeping more material out of the landfill.