The Town of Lake Cowichan is not ready to move ahead with the recycling of glass or garden waste just yet, but councillors are still discussing the subject.
They took another look at it during their public works committee meeting Nov. 3 but learned from town CAO Joe Fernandez that, although he’s been in touch with the other municipalities to see what they are doing, he’s hasn’t “crunched the numbers” yet.
Also, “it’s all over the map; every city does it differently,” he continued.
Part of the problem is that residents can already dispose of those materials by driving them to the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s Bings Creek facility but there’s more to it.
Such collection could involve the town’s own public works employees since the current contractor is “not amenable” to doing either, according to Coun. Tim McGonigle.
He said he wasn’t sure if the added expense to benefit what might be only a small number of people was a good choice for the town.
Mayor Ross Forrest agreed.
“If the system we have now is not broken, why are we so concerned about it?” he asked.
Coun. Carolyne Austin said she was concerned for people that don’t have vehicles and would like some environmentally friendly way to dispose of their yard waste instead of burning it.