RESIDENTS of West Vancouver will have to hold on to their trash a bit longer now.
The district is changing garbage collection frequency on Earth Day, April 22, from the usual weekly service to every two weeks.
"The move to biweekly garbage collection gives residents even more reason to use their green cans," Mayor Michael Smith stated in a press release. "By continuing to adjust service levels for garbage collection, we will lead the North Shore in meeting our regional waste diversion targets of 70 per cent for 2015 and remain one of the most efficient and cost-effective garbage services in the region."
Along with the environmental benefits, the municipality says fewer pick-ups means less money coming from the taxpayer.
But one West Vancouver resident isn't buying it.
"Our taxes aren't going to go down any more," said Sandy Cullen. "Taxes are always going to go up."
Garbage pickup every other week will hurt residents, especially the elderly or those with larger families, Cullen said.
"I know in Toronto they have garbage pickup every two weeks and raccoons were in it all the time," she said.
Cullen said she doesn't want her garbage sitting around for two weeks in the summer with animals and bugs around.
Garbage size will remain at 154 litres, but yard trimmings will now be restricted to six containers including the Green Can.
Currently, the amount of yard trimmings have no limit, but the city states private landscaping companies have taken advantage of that and placed commercial-sized quantities at the curb.
Elected members also said the region is running out of space to get rid of garbage in the Lower Mainland and finding or making new landfills or waste-to-energy facilities is costly.
"Diverting garbage through recycling or composting saves expensive disposal capacity, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and avoids long-term fee increases for residents," the press release states.
Recycling, yard trimmings and Green Can pickup will remain weekly.
