The first year of a 10-year renewable automated waste collection contract to serve the RDN outside the City of Nanaimo kicks on next fall. The first value of the first year of the deal is $3.2 million (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

curbside collection

Automated garbage collection to spread across entire Mid Island region

Sep 24, 2019 | 9:18 AM

NANAIMO — Automated garbage collection trucks for nearly 30,000 single-family households on the mid island will hit the streets next fall.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board awarded a 10-year contract to their current waste disposal operator Waste Connections of Canada.

The RDN’s manager of solid waste services Larry Gardner said the deal includes a 10-year renewable option, which provides security for the RDN and dangles a carrot for Waste Connections.

“They work very hard at assisting us in providing good customer service in keeping our contamination rates low in our recycling and organics, we look forward to that continuing,” Gardner told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The switch to automated garbage pick-up in Oct. 2020 applies to all single-family households between Cedar and Bowser, excluding the City of Nanaimo, which already has the service.

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Gardner said annual user rates would bump up from the current level of $154 per household to $175 in 2020 and increase annually based on inflation.

Gardner said individual user rates will fluctuate based on the size of bins customers choose.

He said size options for garbage and recycling bins are available, while the green food waste bin will be a universal 100 litre size.

“We’re really hoping the community gets out and selects the bin choices that best fit their needs, Gardner said. “We will have bins in a number of locations throughout the Regional District (until Nov. 29) so people can see them.”

Gardner said key benefits of moving to curbside automation include worker safety and no weight restrictions.

“This will also help us move toward our 90 per cent waste diversion target which we’re hoping to attain over the next decade,” Gardner said.

He acknowledged some rural residents expressed concerns about getting the larger bins to the end of their driveway.

Ten new trucks and a spare vehicle with automated arms to grab, lift and empty materials are included in the contract, Gardner said.

Cart selections can be made up until Dec. 31, which can be done online by clicking here.

Information booklets are also being mailed out.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes