Quesnel Moves to Automated Garbage Collection

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 12:23 PM

Quesnel, B.C. - The City of Quesnel is getting ready to launch its new automated system for residential garbage collection.

The new collection model will start on Tuesday March 31.

Specially designed carts will be supplied to all residents currently provided with garbage collection. City crews will deliver the new carts starting today. It will be placed in the spot where the City would like it left on collection days. Attached to the cart will be a package of helpful information and tips on how to make the new system work for you.

There will be no change to residents’ regular garbage collection day. If you currently have your garbage picked up on Tuesday, you’ll put out the new cart on Tuesday.

“The City is committed to being an environmentally conscious organization,” said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. “This will allow us to take one garbage truck off the road, considerably reducing our annual vehicle emissions. It also reduces the potential for work-related injuries and strain. And for our taxpayers, there is no increase to what you’ll pay for garbage collection. It’s a great project all around.”

The waste is collected from the cart using a special truck, equipped with a mechanical arm that picks up the cart, empties it, and returns it to its original position. The same system has been in operation in Prince George for a number of years.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 12:23 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: hammmy on March 24 2009 1:07 PM

Sorry Quesnel your garbage rates just went up.

Posted by: diplomat on March 24 2009 4:03 PM

The automated garbage collection system uses wheeled garbage containers or in other words: garbage containers that are equipped with wheels.

A cart is a different piece of equipment and somewhat difficult to fill up with garbage...

:)-

Posted by: Harbinger on March 24 2009 4:42 PM

Even if the residents of Quesnel are told there will be no increase in cost, and even if they get a fancy brochure with it written on it that there will be no increases in cost, city council will lie in the coming years and say the cost will increase because of blah, blah, blah. City councils lie. Or to be politically correct, they tell "untruths". Just wait a year for it to be in the paper.

Posted by: Palopu on March 24 2009 6:50 PM

They are using the same reasons for this garbage collection system that Prince George used, including vehicle emmissions, and injuries, however they do not state what the cost of the injuries were, nor did Prince George.

At the end of the day the Prince George system cost taxpayer money, and the cost of collection increased by approx $45000.00 per year, when in was supposed to decrease by $75,000.00 per year.

The new truck handle a smaller payload than the old trucks, and therefore require more trips to the garbage dump, which of course means more miles travelled, and therefore the same or more emmissions.

Prince George tax payers were hoodwinked, and it looks like Quesnel will be next.

Who wins??? Truck manufacturers and Garbage Bin Manufacturers.

Posted by: Mercenary on March 24 2009 8:14 PM

I was thinking that with one less truck on the road that is probably a loss of two or 3 jobs. Too bad for those workers.

Posted by: Palopu on March 24 2009 8:21 PM

If Quesnel does what Prince George did they will transfer these people to different jobs, and there will be no reduction in staffing.

Posted by: diplomat on March 25 2009 7:47 AM

Apparently there were a lot of back and muscle strain injuries before the introduction of the automated garbage pick up in Prince George. Since then - none.

Is anyone suggesting that the old bull work physical monotonous (no matter what the weather) method was better?

Even if the new method is more expensive it is better in every other respect.

What monetary value can be placed on injuries? How much is a slipped disk worth? Or half a year off work in pain and on compensation?

I don't think any potential hoodwinking enters into this equation at all. It was the humane modern thing to do.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 25 2009 4:43 PM

Paying more fees and taxes is the humane thing to do also.