Dear Editor
Being a public activist and concerned citizen, I would like to direct my voice to North Battleford city council on the newly approved decision to have city wide garbage picked up biweekly and residents will be receiving recycle bins as well.
I am in favour of the recycle bins, what I am not in favour of is the change made by city council Monday that would make the weekly garbage pickup, biweekly. I point out that the "old way" of pickup was garbage weekly and recycle, biweekly.
A standard garbage bin is approximately four feet high by 1' 6'' by 1' 6", able to hold maybe six garbage bags. Recommendations are the top of the bin must be closed. Theoretical perspectives indicate one garbage bag a day for an average household. Council expects its residents to fit 12 garbage bags in over a two-week period.
Don't be surprised when we see garbage all over the city due to vast amounts of trash outside homes and stray animals getting into it. What about the smell that comes from week-old garbage sitting in the sun on a summer's day? Or when the bags are stuck to the ground on a typical winter night?
An option to too much garbage may be to drive to the dump facility and pay a second time to dump your garbage. Some people do not have vehicles to transport waste, and, with the recent rate increase, who can afford it.
Residents should drive down the streets of North Battleford when garbage pickup is being held and look at the amount of trash in residents' bins. I have come across a number of houses where there were garbage bags exploding out of the bins with bags beside the bins. Do I blame the residents? No, not one bit. Do we make the problem even worse by going to biweekly pickup? I hope not. It is always easier to fix a small problem before it becomes a big problem and usually cheaper, too, for everyone in the long run.
City of North Battleford (official) Facebook quotes: "You're already paying for it on your utility bill - no additional costs." With this statement in mind, currently we are paying for weekly garbage pickup. If it is switched to biweekly, will our garbage fee on our utility bill be less? We are throwing less garbage away and everyone is already being charged for recycling, a fact to keep in mind.
My contact with council by email and letter is concerning. I received one response from one council member only.
Jonathon Kadler
North Battleford
