By Spencer Sterritt

Phase two of automated garbage collection finally rolling out to all Nanaimo homes

May 23, 2018 | 4:32 PM

NANAIMO — Automated garbage collection is coming to all Nanaimo homes after a series of delays and controversies.

The second and final phase of introducing automated garbage begins June 11 with bins being dropped off at north and south Nanaimo homes.

Interim sanitation, recycling and public works manager David Thompson told NanaimoNewsNOW it will take four to five weeks to drop off roughly 18,000 bins. The six new automated garbage trucks will hit the streets when they arrive in coming weeks as well.

He said phase one, which added two trucks and approximately 8,000 carts, was a learning experience for the City and residents.

“Certainly with the experience from phase one, people who are going to be participating in phase two have a lot more information. They’ve seen how the program works. They’ve had an opportunity to talk to other residents and understand the benefits the program brings.”

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The new system is being introduced to curb workplace injuries. City staff previously told NanaimoNewsNOW the constant physical stress of repeatedly getting out of a cab, lifting a heavy bin of garbage and getting back into the cab cost the City more than $400,000 a year in workplace injuries.

Nanaimo residents now pay $165 a year for the service, which already increased in 2017 as part of the rollout.

The rate is expected to drop as the trucks and bins are paid off.

The end of phase two marks the end of the controversial introduction of the service, which included the firing and then re-hiring of sanitation manager Charlotte Davis (who’s soon to be on maternity leave), cost overruns, initial delays of the trucks being used and contracts being signed at the last-minute.

Thompson said there were a lot of questions during phase one about the new service, which is why he said they’ll keep up education efforts for the rest of the year. Information displays are set up across the City until July 13.

You can find their location and further information online here.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit