Waste & Recycling Services has recommended a new program to address several key concerns. The program aims to manage escalating costs of waste collection and enhance diversion efforts, while considering the limited number of contractors available for manual collection. Importantly, the program aligns with what residents have expressed in their survey feedback.
Review the black cart survey and program recommendation here.
At the Nov. 6 council meeting, Council accepted the black cart report and automated black cart program recommendation for information, requesting that staff return in 2024 with more information about program pricing.
The feedback was extensive and valued. Top concerns include:
However, residents also see the benefits:
Staff are working on pricing for the following program:
We're committed to transparency and collaboration. We will return to Council with a rate structure proposal in 2024.
The goal of Waste and Recycling Services is to increase diversion and reduce contamination in the green and blue bin programs. Right now, we recycle and compost 67 per cent of what's put out for pickup.
Contamination refers to items that do not belong in a particular bin, for example, plastics in the green cart and food waste in the garbage.
Contamination is a concern because it:
Data from other Cities that offer an automated garbage collection service show more waste is sent to landfill than those without an automated program.
We want to continue to increase our diversion efforts within our City and the recommended program is designed to encourage diversion, while updating our program to an automated system.