The Municipality of North Cowichan is rolling out its new automated trucks for garbage and kitchen/yard waste collection this week.
Chemainus residents are pondering the changes and challenges involved in a new program that impacts kitchen waste disposal.
Use of the larger containers and the pickup procedures promises more efficiency and safety.
“The new trucks will use mechanical arms to lift and empty the new carts that were delivered to North Cowichan curbside customers over the past few weeks,” North Cowichan explains. “Automated curbside collection is more efficient, safer for workers and – for the first time – includes yard waste in the organics cart.”
In a message to North Cowichan residents, North Cowichan notes these highlights:
- There is no change to recycling services at this time – residents will continue to use their current bins and yellow bags.
- Collection will continue on your regular schedule.
- Place your carts facing toward the street, keep lids closed, and leave at least one metre from other carts and obstacles.
- Keep sidewalks and bicycle lanes clear.
- Repurpose you old garbage bags and kitchen waste containers. Alternatively, there will be a collection day for old containers in coming months. Stay tuned for details and timing.
- If you need a different sized cart, they can be exchanged this fall. Each cart exchange will incur and $30 administration fee. Larger carts have a higher annual curbside service fee.
A change that is causing some angst for residents involves the use of plastic liners or bags for collecting kitchen waste.
The use of the plastic liners is no longer permitted.
On the Municipality’s website, one resident asked why the practice that had been in place for several years was no longer acceptable.
“Seems very odd that compostable plastic liners like Glad’s labelled as accepted in Municipal Facilities are no longer acceptable in North Cowichan. Is this the practice now in all BC municipalities or is North Cowichan unique to this new practice? How come they used to be considered compostable but aren’t any more? Your posted answers don’t explain fully.”
North Cowichan responded that each municipality/community will have its own protocol regarding liners.
“The compost facility that receives organic waste from North Cowichan is finding that plastic liners – even those labelled biodegradable or compostable – do not break down during the composting process. Labeling in Canada does not have any guidelines around what ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’ means, so many of these products do not do what they claim.
“To remove this source of contamination, North Cowichan is taking this opportunity as we change to automated collection, to move away from plastic liners.”
On social media, Chemainus residents are offering various solutions including using newspaper, certain types of compostable bags and other ideas.
“You can use compostable bags as long as they actually compost (ie don’t have any plastic in their makeup). I buy these bags from Amazon. They are completely compostable and this is a Canadian company so bonus there,” one resident advised.
Others were less accepting of the change and expressed frustration.
“Since it appears compostable bags will no longer be accepted, it seems the only reasonable choice is to throw it all in the garbage,” one resident commented.
“The options you have repeatedly offer in your replies (paper, direct in bin, etc.) are not acceptable to me as they cause issues such as mess, cost, odour. Judging by the replies, it seems many other people feel the same frustration.”
North Cowichan provides curbside collection of garbage, kitchen waste, and recycling to about 10,000 homes. The Cowichan Valley Regional District and the City of Duncan are also implementing changes to their curbside services, and residents should ensure they are following information for where they live as there are slight differences to the services and timing.
Visit connectnorthcowichan.ca/autocarts to find the latest information about the new service and how to set out your carts. You can also sign up for reminders by downloading the MNC Curbside app, where you can view schedules, use the waste wizard to learn how to dispose of all types of waste, and receive service alerts.