Major garbage collection changes proposed
Proposed changes to city garbage pickup would eliminate back alley collection and change how residents put their garbage out.
Council will vote next week on whether to expand city-wide the cart collection system that’s been underway in Porter Creek as a pilot project.
Along with moving ahead with the new system in May 2009, city administration is also recommending council garbage and compost collection in back alleys be moved to streets.
The collection schedule would also be changed so garbage and compost would be picked up on the same day every two weeks.
By approving the changes, the city would also tender contracts for supplying the new compost and garbage carts as well as three new trucks with automated lifters.
“This is something that’s been in the works for a very long time and I think it sure shows that pilot projects really do pay off in good time,“ said Mayor Bev Buckway.
She spoke following a presentation on the proposal and the results of the pilot project by environmental co-ordinator Pippa McNeil.
Under the pilot project, garbage carts were used at special events, for commercial customers and a residential section of Porter Creek from last
November until the end of March with the regular schedule. The carts are similar to the compost carts currently used in the city-wide compost collection.
Officials then monitored the amount of garbage and compost coming into the area, using information from November 2006 to May 2007 as a base of comparison.
Among some of the results, it was found:
- 47 per cent of waste was diverted from the landfill compared to 27 per cent in the pilot project site.
In another area of Porter Creek that was monitored for comparison at the same time, diversion rates went up to 29 per cent, while the overall diversion rate for the entire city is about 31 per cent; and
- Use of garbage bags declined;
- Snow clearing was not an issue with the carts;
- Lifters on the truck slow down at -25 C, become jerky at -35 C and stop working at -40 C;
- A truck with a deeper hopper would reduce spills; and
- Properly designed trucks with fully-automated lifters would speed up collection.
McNeil also noted there’s been a good public response to the carts, with residents in the pilot project area telling operators they love the carts and people on other routes asking for them.
Requests have also come in for carts from those living in legal suites and a resident who had originally refused to use a cart has now requested one.
There are some residents confused about when garbage is collected and when compost is gathered.
By going to the new system, McNeil said, garbage and compost would be collected at the same time with residents putting out both the compost cart and garbage cart with the new trucks being split for each.
With the new trucks unable to fit into back alleys, garbage collection there would be moved to the street.
It’s expected that the city’s portion of the federal gas tax fund could pay for the estimated $2.35-million project that will pay for the new trucks and 12,000 carts.
It appears city administration will have the support of council, with others echoing Buckway’s praise for the proposal.
“Right from the start, it’s been a positive thing,“ said Coun. Doug Graham, noting the city has saved money by diverting waste from the landfill.
Each cart will be the same size at 240 litres, which will likely meet the needs of most residents, Buckway said.
“I know for myself it’s adequate, even after two weeks,“ she said, noting her bin isn’t always full.
The mayor noted the city would likely stick with the same-size cart for everyone, rather than go to a system like the one Toronto is beginning to adopt
where residents can select the size of bin they want with collection prices based on that.
Prices there will range from $199 for the small bin, which holds about one bag of garbage, to $399 for the extra-large bins, holding 4 1/2 bags of garbage.
Whitehorse city council will vote on the local initiative at its regular meeting next Monday.