By Cheryl Jahn

Could garbage collection go bi-weekly?

Nov 24, 2023 | 3:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Every week, as per schedule, residents put out their garbage cans and every second week they’re blue bins for recycling. It’s been that way for years, but the City is looking at its options for garbage collection.

“We’ve been approved to procure a third party to help us develop a solid waste management plan, which would help support and guide a potential move to bi-weekly garbage collection,” explains Blake McIntosh, Director of Civic Operations. “I think there’s – as far as greener initiatives and diverting materials that probably shouldn’t go into the landfill – and could be recycled and used for other things that that’s a big plus and move like that.”

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George operates the Foothills landfill where all our garbage goes. It is currently doing what’s called a waste audit.

“We did have an audit done in October and we’re just waiting on the final report on that. We should have that by the end of January,” says Renee McClosky with the Regional District. “And really what those audits do is it really just helps us inform where we need to be putting some emphasis with respect to the waste that’s coming into the landfill. Is there a lot of material that we’re seeing that could be easily diverted and then just helps inform where we need to maybe do some more public education?”

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The last audit was done in 2018. It showed then that more than 46% of the waste that ends up at the landfill is compostable organics and 18% is plastic. So what comes of the next audit?

“That’s what we take a look at the type of waste that’s received. Is it the kind of waste that can be diverted from the landfill? So can it be recycled? Do we have programs already in place where those materials can be accepted? If so, then we know we just need to maybe look at what we’re doing to improve the education, to make people aware of where those materials can go. Rather than the landfill. So yard and garden waste, for example, a number of the transfer stations around town, except that.”

While the regional district has a solid waste management plan, the City does not, and the City plans to change that. But the timing is tricky.

“Well, hopefully, we can get a good jump on it for 2024 or perhaps, you know, end of 2024 report back to council on some findings,” says McIntosh. “I’m not sure what capacity will be like out in the consulting world. So that’s something we’ll have to look into.”