Port Coquitlam has reduced garbage pickup to bi-weekly, and as a result has reduced the amount of garbage collected, overall.
The Town of Lake Cowichan’s elected officials discussed the idea of following Port Coquitlam’s example, during their Tuesday, April 5, Public Works Committee meeting. As of April 1, the town has switched back to weekly pickup.
As for the argument that reduced pickup will result in an increase of wildlife, councillor Tim McGonigle said, "I think that's poor control by residents. If you can't put it in an animal-free environment that's your fault."
With fewer pickups and less refuse collected, the town hopes to work on eliminating their annual garbage collection deficit.
The 2010 deficit was $44,443, while 2011's tentatively budgeted deficit is at $27,526. It has been reduced this year, in part, due to the elimination of special collections.