According to Village of Burns Lake chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing, currently the purchase of new Village of Burns Lake garbage cans is not mandatory, however council is set to review the progress of the program in the new year and make a decision accordingly.
A note posted on residential garbage cans said that soon it will be a requirement that all residents of Burns Lake own a village garbage can to expedite municipal garbage collection services.
Worthing said, "We have been communicating that it is expected that at some point in the future council will make new village garbage cans mandatory, because council has invested in a new garbage truck that accommodates these cans. There are health and safety benefits for our public works crew members as well as the public."
As reported in the Lakes District News edition of Feb. 16, 2011, the new garbage truck and several new style cans were delivered to select businesses and residents across town in January on a trial basis. The trial was conducted for two months and the cans were deemed successful.
The new truck was ordered on April 21, 2010, costing a total of $219,755 excluding taxes and was budgeted for by council as part of the 2010 capital works budget, as well as capital reserve funds.
Worthing said that the new cans are currently being offered at a discounted rate due to the proceeds from the sale of the old garbage truck being applied to the cost of the new cans. "Small cans are currently being sold at the discounted price of $72.46 including harmonized sales tax (HST) and large cans are being sold at the discounted price of $84.78 including HST," Worthing said.
The cost for a 65 gallon can after Dec. 31, 2011 will be $86.24 including HST and a 90 gallon can will be $98.56 including HST.
According to Worthing, the garbage can campaign has been very successful to date. "Approximately 25 per cent of village residents and 30 per cent of business have purchased the new cans."
"The new cans are easy to roll out to the road on garbage day, do not tip over easily, the lid stays on to help keep animals out, and our crew are able to lift the cans using an attachment on our new garbage truck," she added.
Once purchased, the cans are the property of the resident. "There is a 60 per cent refund available if the resident chooses to leave the community. They can leave it at the residence, or choose take it with them [without a refund]."
Worthing added, "Council did discuss the possibility of a [garbage collection rate] rebate, but deferred the decision until budget discussions take place. There is no rebate on the collection rate at this time."
The District of Houston has also implemented new garbage cans. Residents are charged $110 for a 64 gallon can and they receive $30 per year break off collection rates. Houston’s cans are mandatory for all ton residents by 2013.