Automated Waste Collection

Starting October 1st 2010, the City of New Westminster is upgrading the garbage and yard trimmings collection service provided to all residents in single-family homes. An automated collection system will be put into operation where standardized collection carts are emptied using a mechanical arm on a truck, instead of workers having to lift and empty cans by hand.

A great new feature of the automated collection program will be the opportunity for residents to reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill. Starting October 1, 2010 you will be able to include kitchen scraps (cooked and uncooked food including meat and dairy) and food soiled paper into your Greens cart which will be collected and taken to a new compost facility in Richmond. This means a new cleaner, greener curbside service along with our blue box recycling program.

Why the Change to a New System?
The garbage trucks currently in use are near the end of their service life, so replacing them offers an opportunity to move to a cleaner, greener automated system. The new carts have secure lids to prevent birds or animals from spreading garbage around, keeping neighbourhoods cleaner, and the convenience of recycling food scraps means a greener choice for residents, helping keep more waste out of landfills. In addition, you may have heard about other Lower Mainlad communities such as Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby and Vancouver, that have introduced food scraps recycling programs. New Westminster residents will now have a chance to join in, creating a greener region.

The Cleaner Greener Program
The Cleaner Greener food scraps and yard trimmings program expands the range of items that can be placed in the Clean Green cart, so that the amount of waste going to the landfill can be reduced even more. You can now include:

• Any kind of cooked or uncooked food scraps, including meat, fish, bones, dairy, and eggshells
• Food-soiled paper like napkins, pizza boxes that are too soiled to recycle
• Yard trimmings, leaves and grass

New Collection Carts
On average, a single-family household in New Westminster puts out about 10 kilograms of garbage for collection each week. That’s about the same as 2 regular sized garbage bags. Based on this, most houses will receive one 120-litre cart for their garbage, taking into account that the new program, as well as our existing blue box recycling service, will allow residents to recycle more than ever.

Properties with a registered suite will automatically receive a 240-litre container for garbage.

For the Cleaner Greener food scraps and yard trimmings carts, the City opted to provide one 240-litre cart to each household. This increases the amount of space available for yard trimmings and food scraps. New Westminster residents will be able to keep even more materials out of the region’s landfills as a result!

The order for the collection carts has been placed, and the delivery of the carts will begin in September 2010.  More information will be provided to residents as the program start date approaches.

Related Materials
•    Automated Waste Collection Brochure
•    Proposed Automated Waste Collection Open House Poster Boards
•    Proposed Automated Waste Collection Council Report - April 27, 2009
 

Need more information?
As we get closer to the program start date on October 1st 2010, more information will be sent to residents. In the meantime, there are a number of ways to get more information on the new program:

• Check out the Frequently Asked Questions on this web site
• Look for displays at City Hall, Centennial Community Centre, Queensborough Community Centre, Century House, and the Royal City Farmer's Market where you’ll be able to pick up some information and check out the carts for yourself.
• Email us at cleanergreener@newwestcity.ca
• Call the Engineering Operations department at 604-526-4691

We are excited about the new programs coming to New Westminster and look forward to your help in making New Westminster a cleaner, greener city!