(Posted 10 a.m., Oct. 30)
Garbage pick up changes take effect this week
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

East end residents should double check their local garbage collection schedule as the city switches to bi-weekly service this week.

For instance, their will be no garbage collection in most parts of Orléans this week including Fallingbrook, Avalon and Chapel Hill. However, black box items, the green bin and yard waste will be picked up.

Regular garbage will be picked up next week and every second week thereafter. Blue bin items will also be picked up next week.

The switch to a bi-weekly schedule will save the city about $10 million a year. But the reason to swtiching to collecting curbside garbage every other week was two-fold. Besides saving tax dollars it was also designd to try and encourage residents to make better use of their green bins.

Since its implementation two years ago, the green bin program has achieved mediocre results at best. According to the city's figures, the green bins diverted 55,000 tonnes of organic waste in 2011. That's well short of the guarnteed amount of 80,000 tonnes the city is obligated to pay for under their 20-year contract with Orgaworld.

The city is hoping the switch to bi-weekly garbage collection and a weekly green bin schedule will encourage residents to fill up their green bins and cut down on the number of garbage bags they place out on the curb.

The goal is to save money while extending the life of the city's landfill sites.

(This story was made possible thanks to their generous support of our local business partners.)

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