By Lyonel Doherty

Town Councillor Petra Veintimilla is steadfast in her opposition to the automated cart program for garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection. But it didn’t get her very far on Tuesday.

Council approved the new contract with Waste Connections of Canada that will see a yearly $5 increase in fees until 2025. Residents currently pay a user fee of $110 per year. By the end of the contract, they will be paying $145.

Veintimilla’s views haven’t changed since the cart program was first introduced, approved, changed and re-approved.

“I didn’t think the change was necessary . . . the current system is not broken,” she said.

The councillor said she could think of better ways to spend the increase. (The new service of the automated carts will be approximately $66,000 more than the current contract.)

“This is a fairly substantial change, we’re increasing service charges when it’s not necessary.”

But Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said the automated cart system is the way the industry is going now. In addition, the increase will be offset by the fact residents won’t have to buy anymore recycling and yard waste bags, he pointed out.

Schwartzenberger also noted the Town previously decreased the cost to residents for garbage collection.

Councillor Maureen Doerr characterized the contract approval as moving forward and being “proactive.”

Mayor Ron Hovanes reminded council about the many injuries that waste collection workers suffer while lifting heavy bins into the trucks.

Under the new contract, residents will receive three carts on wheels – one for garbage, one for recycling and one for yard waste. A truck is used to pick up each cart via hydraulic forks that empty the contents in the back of the truck. The forks then deposit the bins back on the curb. The driver never touches the carts.

Chief Financial Officer Devon Wannop recommended that council go with the cart program, and starting in 2019, increase the user fee to $5 per year until the end of the contract in 2025.

Money from the solid waste reserve fund will be used to offset the additional cost of the program.