The New Year will bring a new waste management system for the towns of Grenfell, Broadview and others in the region.
Red Coat Waste Resource Authority has contracted Loraas Disposal (Saskatchewan’s largest waste/recycling service provider) as its collection service provider, following the contract completion of existing provider Waste Management.
The new three-year contract will provide curb-side waste collection services and garbage carts to residences, and will void the need for garbage tags.
Loraas will service waste containers at transfer stations and recycle containers at recycling depots and will provide residential curbside pickup services, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
A closed meeting was held on Nov.22, in Whitewood, to discuss the transition. Attendees included RCWRA members, representatives from Loraas Disposal, and elected town officials.
The change in collection services came after the Board of Directors, which oversee day-to-day operations, received requests and responded to overwhelming interest for garbage cart pickup.
The carts are a cleaner, more efficient way of collection as there is less handling of garbage. The 96 gallon carts will be collected from the streets only and will not be serviced in alley ways.
The curbside pick up service will be for garbage exclusively. There is a possibility that future developments within Regina will allow the region the option of curbside recycling in the future. But for now, the recycling program will continue in 2012 as it currently operates. That is, recycle bins will be available for separated materials at transfer stations/recycle depots within the region. Loraas will empty the bins on a timely schedule and will deliver the recyclables to Crow Shred in Regina where they are processed.
Garbage collected will be hauled to the RCWRA landfill located near Kipling, SK. Because each community shares in ownership of the landfill, members have their waste disposed of in a landfill where, as joint owners, they do not have to pay landfill fees.
Information and inquires were directed at the meeting, and an unforeseen conflict affecting small businesses was identified.
The expense is shared by the communities and divided on a basis of population which includes residential dwellings only, and not businesses. Because RCWRA services the residential sector primarily, the Board must decide how, or if, small businesses can be accommodated. The Board is scheduled to meet on Nov.28, to discuss whether small businesses will be charged for RCWRA services or if a commercial contract will be required.
Residents will not be charged for the garbage carts directly by RCWRA or Loraas Disposal. The cost of the carts will be accounted for in the annual levy that each community pays.
However, the towns/villages have the option to recover the cost of the levy from their rate-payers.
If a cart is lost or vandalized, it will be charged to RCWRA, which then has the option of recovering the cost from the town/village. The municipality then has the option of recovering the cost from the household.
In the first weeks of December, garbage carts will be delivered to residences. Residents are advised not to use the carts until January 2012 when curb-side collection will begin.
As of Jan.1, Broadview pickup will be on Thursdays and Grenfell pickup will be on Fridays, with the exception of holidays.
RCWRA is not a private company but a group of towns, villages and RMs which have joined together to share the costs of a landfill operation, waste management and a recycle program. A community does not enter into a service contract, but rather joins as a member under a Member Agreement. The RCWRA has acted as a company with a regional membership for 10 years, and currently serves 26 Saskatchewan communities.
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