Saint John is looking to modernize its garbage pick up service but it may come with extra costs, according to a new report.
A pilot program would provide around 1,000 residents with new 180-litre black bins. Any trash bags that don’t fit in the bins would be subject to a $2 fee. Residents would have to buy “bag tags” that would be placed around the excess bags.
According to a staff report to council, the changes are an effort to reduce tipping fees and increase workplace safety.
Councillor Ray Strowbridge says the additional cost could hurt some households.
“I’m not a fan of asking people to pay an extra two dollars when they’re only providing a bin that may only hold up to two garbage bags. I don’t think that’s fair, I don’t think that’s reasonable,” he said.
Some examples of what the new black and blue bins could look like. (City of Saint John)
The city spends around $1.3 million on tipping fees each year. Currently, there are no limits on the number of garbage bags you can put out during collection weeks.
There is also no curbside recycling program, meaning waste that could be recycled is going to the landfill.
Under the pilot program, residents will be issued two 80-litre recycling totes for sorting paper/cardboard and plastic/metal. The bins and pick-up would be provided free of charge. During the pilot, the city will investigate the best day and frequency for pick up.
The city wants to lessen the load and safety risks put on manual workers by putting limits on the amount of bags a household can put out each pick-up week. There are 13 people and 11 trucks servicing more than 23,000 households.
As well, two new “Helping Hand” machines will be purchased, which will attach to the garbage trucks and lift up black bins, reducing the need for manual labour. Two units are expected in the fall of 2019 and an additional two in late spring of 2020.
Strowbridge sees the positives but has mixed feelings about the report.
“Curbside recycling is a wonderful idea, it’s something we should all be doing. I’m all about reducing expenses for the city and of course, making sure that the workforce is being protected, but I just don’t want to put more financial pressures on people,” he said.
Strowbridge says he heard many concerns from residents after sharing the report on Facebook, including worries that the new bins wouldn’t hold enough garbage bags.
Hi everyone, I have a question for you. City staff are asking Common Council to make some changes to the city’s garbage…
Posted by Ray Strowbridge on Sunday, September 22, 2019
“I also heard concerns and objections and questions from property owners, people who have rental units and how it would be handled with that,” he said.
“There’s a lot of unanswered questions.”
Phase one of the pilot project is estimated to cost around $190,000, with the full implementation costing $2.2 million. Open houses and data collection would take place during the first phase to help inform future roll-outs.
Council is expected to discuss the report in more detail in October.
