New Westminster – New automated garbage collection trucks will be rolling down city streets in spring 2010. The City of New Westminster has ordered three new automated collection vehicles, following council’s approval of a plan to switch to state-of-the-art automated collection throughout the City. The expected delivery date for the new trucks is March 2010. The vehicles will be used to collect both garbage and Clean Green materials.

The new collection process will require residents to switch from traditional garbage “cans” to collection carts, which the City will order and distribute in conjunction with the arrival of the new trucks.

“The feedback we’ve received from residents is that they prefer the small 120 L or mid-sized 180 L carts for their household garbage,” said Jon McDonald, New Westminster’s Manager of Engineering Operations. “Most people preferred the mid-sized cart for Clean Green.”

To simplify ordering and reduce costs, all Clean Green carts and the majority of garbage carts will be the 180 L size. Residents will be able to opt for a smaller (or larger) cart at the beginning of the program.

The switch to automated collection may also offer another exciting opportunity for local residents.

“When Metro Vancouver opens its organics processing facility later this year, residents may be able to include their kitchen waste with their Clean Green,” said McDonald. “The closed collection carts will make this service easier for residents and it’s the preferred method for providing household food waste collection service.”

The City will distribute more detailed information to residents later this fall as the new program takes shape. Regular updates will also be provided through the city website at www.newwestcity.ca.

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Contact:
Jon McDonald
Manager, Engineering Operations
604-526-4691
jmcdonald@newwestcity.ca