North Battleford city council has some hard thinking ahead of them on the issue of whether to convert from communal bins to individual rollout bins across the city.
In a December report to council, administration recommended converting to rollout bins in one change on the heels of what they deem to be a successful pilot project in the 109th, 110th and 111th Street area. That area has seen rollout bins in use there for the past year.
However, city council indicated at a municipal services meeting Dec. 20 they plan to take a go-slow approach to extending the use of rollout bins to the entire city. The primary reason: concern about the high cost of the individual bin system.
The mayor and councillors indicated they wanted more facts and figures on the costs, as well as the potential savings involved before they were ready to accept administration's recommendation to fully switch to the rollout bins.
In a Dec. 7 memo to council's municipal services committee, City Environmental Engineering Technologist Sasha Nighttraveller outlined what would be involved if the city were to convert to rollout bins all at once. Approximately 4,775 bins would be needed to each residence in the community, she stated in her report.
Eight hundred 800 rollout bins are currebntly in operation, many of which were part of a pilot project begun in mid-2009. The 250 bins used for the pilot project had been in use in that area since October.
An additional 3,925 bins would be needed, said Nighttraveller, at a cost of $70 per bin. That would amount to a capital expenditure of $278,250, plus a one-time conversion fee of $38,250. Charges for garbage collection for 4,775 bins has been estimated by K & B Construction at $9 per month per bin for a total of $515,700.
It was these increased cost that had Mayor Ian Hamilton and councillors concerned, as the existing contract for collection of garbage from the communal bins amounted to $360,451. A move to rollout bins would mean an increase in collection charges of $150,249.
Hamilton said he did not "have the will" to move quickly on implementing the rollout system "because of the cost.".
Hamilton also suggested more effort could be made to crack down on people abusing the existing communal bins, adding warning signs on those bins could have been placed on them to deter abusers.
Other councillors were similarly concerned about the costs and did not feel the need to rush ahead with the conversion. Councillor Ron Crush was one of those who suggested imposing rollout bins in one fell swoop might be too fast.
"I think we're just a bit ahead of the game as far as full conversion," Crush said.
The general consensus that emerged from the meeting was not to rush ahead with conversion. As well, it was suggested further public consultation, such as a survey, would be needed before a decision was made at a full council meeting.
City Manager Jim Toye stold councillors a survey isn't likely to happen for several months because of other priorities, suggesting a new system wouldn't likely be implemented until 2012 at the earliest.
Conversion to rollout bins has been an ongoing issue for council, which has been alarmed at some of the problems associated with the existing communal bins.T have been numerous issues about the communal bins overflowing, broken lids and issues with bins being filled with furniture or other items that end up taking up valuable space in the city's landfill, which is filling up faster than expected.
The City's pilot project was centred in an area of the city that had seen the lion's share of issues with the communal bins.
Nighttraveller's report stated the pilot project "proved to be a success." She noted many residents want this system of garbage collection and there were fewer nuisance reports relating to the communal bins.
"There have been no bin fires, no overflowing messes around the bins, the lids are not broken, no reports of property damage to fences, etc., no vandalism and in general the pilot project test area looks much more aesthetically pleasing," she stated.
City Public Works Director Stewart Schafer elaborated on observations of the trial run with the rollout bins. He noted to councillors the pilot project turned out better than expected and was well received by area residents.
"I was expecting to see a few more problems which did not occur," Schafer told council.
He did note there were some initial complaints and concerns with one resident worried the bins weren't large enough to accommodate the weekly accumulation of garbage. Schafer said, however, the size of the bins were comparable to what had been allotted before with the communal bins.
As well, Nighttraveller's report informed councillors the City received one report of abuse by one resident using garbage pickup twice per week instead of once a week as intended.
Officials from K & B were at the municipal services meeting and they reported that a camera on their garbage truck has been helpful towards catching potential abuse.
