AUTOMATED WASTE COLLECTION FAQ’S
1. How often will our refuse be collected?
2. How big are the carts?
3. What kinds of things go into the 240 litre recycle cart? I think we can get by with a 120 litre cart for garbage if most of what we throw away is recyclable.
4. Can I place all recycling materials into one cart without sorting it? Who does the sorting, and how come it's changing?
5. A recycling cart weighs 34 lbs, and I have approximately 60 to 70 lbs of recycling I generate. How will I be able to handle the weight, especially if my property is on a slope?
6. Do we dump our organic food waste directly into the yard waste cart, or do we place it in a plastic bag and then dump it into the cart?
7. Will yard waste collection go year-round or will it stop during the winter months like it does now?
8. How do we handle bundles of branches and prunings?
9. What are we to do with our existing large carts? Our current one is in good condition.
10. I have a stack of “extra garbage” stickers purchased from the city. What do we do with the “extra garbage” stickers purchased before June 26th?
11. Are these bins “bear proof”?
12. Will the annual spring cleanup still take place?
13. I wonder about the aesthetics of my neighbourhood when three large carts are placed at curbside at each home. I have room for them but some people do not have room in their garages.
14. Do lids on the carts lock?
15. Do I need to put a liner in the cart before dumping yard waste or organic food waste?
16. I have an existing 240 litre semi-automated cart that is still in good condition. Why can’t I continue to use it and not pay the additional annual fee of $100?
1. How often will our refuse be collected?
Garbage will be collected weekly.
If you live in a single-residence home or a townhouse with curbside collection, your yard waste and recycling will be collected bi-weekly. If you live in a multi-unit residence with a centralized recycling area, your recycling will continue to be collected weekly.
See the solid waste collection insert in the 2009 Port Moody City Calendar for a July-December 2009 schedule.
2. How big are the carts?
Recycling and yard waste/organic carts are 240 litres each. The standard garbage cart is 120 litres.
For an additional fee, residents had an option to upgrade to a 240 litre garbage cart by filling out a form that we mailed out in November 2008. This option was available until early May 2009.
You will have another opportunity to make changes after August 4, 2009 when we have delivered all the carts and the new service is underway.
4. What kinds of things go into the 240 litre recycle cart? I think we can get by with a 120 litre cart for garbage if most of what we throw away is recyclable.
The same recyclables that you currently sort between your blue box and yellow/blue bags will now go into your 240 litre cart. If you are in a single family home and have yard waste collection, you likely will find that the 120 litre garbage can will meet your needs if you consciously recycle and dump organics into your yard waste cart.
5. Can I place all recycling materials into one cart without sorting it? Who does the sorting, and how come it's changing?
You can place all recyclables that now require sorting together in the one cart. They will be sent to a processor who will then sort them with computerized equipment into the 3 streams. This will provide you with more convenience and support greater levels of recycling.
6. A recycling cart weighs 34 lbs, and I have approximately 60 to 70 lbs of recycling I generate. How will I be able to handle the weight, especially if my property is on a slope?
Carts are designed to wheel easily even when full. The carts have good quality wheels and structure to support the volumes.
We are aware that some residents have special considerations with respect to steep slopes and their ability to maneuver carts due to personal circumstances. If this applies to you, and you have not already advised staff by phone, e-mail or on your cart selection form, please be sure to contact us by e-mail at recycle@cityofportmoody.com or by phone at 469-4574.
7. Do we dump our organic food waste directly into the yard waste cart, or do we place it in a plastic bag and then dump it into the cart?
Yard and organic kitchen waste will be collected in the one cart. The brochure you received in early May, and the information attached to your cart at delivery lists all kitchen waste that can be included.
You would typically collect allowable organics in a container in your home (consider a reusable plastic or stainless steel covered pail) and empty them into the cart as is deemed necessary. Do not use plastic bags; they will contaminate the compost.
8. Will yard waste collection go year-round or will it stop during the winter months like it does now?
Yard waste collection will be scheduled bi-weekly through the entire year, with no stoppage for the winter months.
9. How do we handle bundles of branches and prunings?
Branches and prunings less than 4 inches in diameter should be cut up and put into your yard waste carts.
The previous limits on curbside collection of yard waste and bundled branches will continue with the new system. Property owners are responsible for disposing of excessive green waste where extraordinary landscaping takes place. This is due to the disposal cost of yard waste at approximately $50 per tonne.
10. What are we to do with our existing large carts? Our current one is in good condition.
The new automated service requires standardized carts which will be the property of the city and assigned to each property address by serial number. If you were to move, the cart stays behind.
The automated system could accommodate some of the existing semi-automated 240 litre carts currently in use within the city.
11. I have a stack of “extra garbage” stickers purchased from the city. What do we do with the “extra garbage” stickers purchased before June 26th?
“Extra garbage” stickers will not be available after June 26th and you cannot use them after that date. The automated truck is unable lift a garbage bag tagged for extra garbage and we cannot collect anything that is not in the carts that the city provides.
Return unused stickers to the City of Port Moody’s Finance Department for a credit.
12. Are these bins “bear proof”?
The garbage and yard/kitchen waste carts have both “bear-resistant” locks. Although bear-resistant locks will make it difficult for bears to access the waste in your carts, no cart is completely “bear-proof.” We recommend that you store your carts in secure areas wherever possible.
You are responsible for ensuring that all locks are unclipped when you put them out on the curb or roadside on the morning of collection.
14. Will the annual spring cleanup still take place?
Yes, there will still be an annual spring clean-up each April. A contractor will be providing this service as our automated trucks cannot handle this type of annual collection. Council may be reviewing this service over the coming months.
15. I wonder about the aesthetics of my neighbourhood when three large carts are placed at curbside at each home. I have room for them but some people do not have room in their garages.
Streets are uniform and tidy in Port Coquitlam, where automated collection has been in place since 2004. Their collection system eliminates the unsightly look of different sizes of garbage cans, overflowing blue boxes and yard waste bags stacked at the curb that you see on many of our streets prior to collection.
Residents can store carts in a garage, shed or somewhere alongside their homes. We will discourage storing carts in the front yard of properties.
16. Do lids on the carts lock?
The cart lids do not lock although they are sturdy and have a hinged lid. The garbage and kitchen & yard waste carts have a locking device on them as part of the “bear-resistant” kit that was installed separately after manufacture of the carts.
17. Do I need to put a liner in the cart before dumping yard waste or organic food waste?
You do not need to put a liner in the carts before dumping your organic food waste. In fact, if you use plastic bags they will contaminate your compost and we ask that you do not put any plastic into the yard/kitchen waste cart.
You may use a small amount of newsprint to wrap your kitchen scraps if necessary during winter months when you don’t have yard waste to layer it with.
18. I have an existing 240 litre semi-automated cart that is still in good condition. Why can’t I continue to use it and not pay the additional annual fee of $100?
The additional charge of $100 annually is not for the purchase of carts. It is for the additional disposal costs. The current rate for sending garbage to the transfer station, and ultimately landfill, is $71 a tonne.
If you still wish to continue using your existing 240 litre semi-automated cart please contact the Recycling and Waste Coordinator at recycle@cityofportmoody.com to make arrangements for us not to deliver a new cart.
