City of St. John’s bringing back bulk garbage collection
Council votes to restore service, for estimated $200,000
The City of St. John’s is set to begin offering residents bulk garbage collection once more, after cutting the service in a tough city budget in 2016.
In presenting the new plan for a vote Tuesday night, chair of the public works committee Coun. Danny Breen commented all council members were hearing from constituents about the loss of the service.
The vote in favour of bringing back bulk garbage collection, albeit in a slightly different form, was unanimous.
The coming service will run five weeks, starting in October. The plan is that city residents will be able to make appointments by calling 311, with notice to go out to residents. A contractor will be hired to complete the collections.
While there will be a curb pickup service available, the city will specify exactly what it will accept and what it will not. The service will also be offered during a limited time period in comparison to the old program.
Before 2016, the city program had run 20 weeks of the year, from May to September. In its last year (2015), it involved a total cost of $400,000.
This time around, with more specific collection over a shorter period, the estimated cost is $150,000 to $200,000.
Items that will be accepted at the pickups include: large appliances, furniture, mattresses and rolled rugs, as examples. The city will not accept: electronic waste, construction materials, boxes filled with garbage, Christmas trees or yard waste, along with other items. Further information will be provided to residents.
There will be no charge to residents for the first bulk pickup, with a $45 fee for additional pickups.