Battleford Town council told its public works superintendent to go ahead with the order of a new garbage truck Monday.
The cost of the truck has come in at just over the $260,000 set aside in this year's budget to replace the current vehicle purchased in 2003.
"We're starting to have problems with it," said Kevin Chaykowski who recommended purchasing the Scorpion Dadee refuse collection vehicle from Superior Truck of Saskatoon. The delivery date is 200 days.
Tenders were also received on two other units, with all three tenders offering $10,000 toward a trade in on the old truck. But Chaykowski recommended keeping the truck or possibly selling it privately. There are six or seven months left to decide, he said.
"I suggest we keep it for now," said Mayor Derek Mahon.
The new truck will have a larger capacity and a stronger arm.
Regardless of any changes in refuse collection and recycling the Town may decide on in the future, the town is growing and needs a larger truck, said Chaykowski.
Earlier this year, at a meeting of councillors and administration to deliberate over the 2014 budget, Town Administrator Sheryl Ballendine said she and the works and utilities superintendent were in the process of compiling a report on garbage, recycling and composting.
Ballendine indicated the report should prompt council to look at both short-term and long-term considerations. Short-term considerations include the fact the garbage pickup truck is worn out. Long-term considerations may include costs for decommissioning the Town's now-closed landfill site.
Currently, the town collects the garbage from the black bins provided by the town once a week. According to the season, it also picks up compost from the green bins available for purchase by town residents.
To address recycling, the town has a single stream collection area near the Alex Dillabough Centre. Blue bins for recycling have also been made available to town residents through Loraas Environmental.
Whether the Town moves to a mandatory recycling scheme like North Battleford's remains to be seen.
