Springfield to automate curbside collection

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This article was published 29/01/2021 (1551 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The RM of Springfield has signed a new solid waste service agreement that will see its curbside program transition from manual to automatic collection later this year.

On Friday, the municipality informed residents who receive curbside garbage and recycling service to expect two new auto-bins by May 2, the program’s anticipated start date.

The wheeled carts can be raised and lowered mechanically at the end of a driveway, eliminating the need for workers to carry materials to a collection truck.

All 2,350 residences that currently receive curbside collection in Springfield will receive two barcoded 240-litre (64-gallon) carts supplied by a contractor. An updated service timetable will follow.

Phillip Pawluk, Springfield’s water and waste manager, said the municipality is one of the last bordering Winnipeg to switch to an automated cart system.

Springfield decided the time was right to transition because its collection agreement was expiring. Following a request for proposals, current provider Emterra Environmental was awarded a five-year agreement that took effect Jan. 1.

The contract includes the spring transition to auto-bins, as well as the potential to expand curbside collection in rural areas by May 2022 and create a biweekly yard waste collection program by 2023 in the hopes of diverting more organic material from the landfill.

Council adopted the new contract, valued at $728,000 annually, with a 5-1 vote on Dec. 15 of last year.

According to a Dec. 9 report prepared by Pawluk, the 2020 operating budget for curbside collection was $434,100, but rose to $515,000. Recycling and fuel costs rose and more garbage was generated at home during the pandemic, the report explained.

The pricier new contract creates an annual shortfall of $293,900 through 2025. The municipality’s forthcoming 2021 budget will therefore need to include a special service levy or mill rate increase in order to avoid depleting reserves.

The costs of the new carts aside, Pawluk said automated collection is cheaper than the manual alternative. The cost of manual pickup is increasing because it’s more labour-intensive, he explained. Benefits of the auto-cart system include fewer injuries, improved recycling rates, and better protection from wildlife.

About 1,880 tons of general waste and 430 tons of recyclables are picked up annually from residences in Springfield. The municipality doesn’t service commercial and industrial properties.

In addition to Oakbank and Dugald, curbside collection is currently offered in Hazelridge, Cooks Creek, Anola, Vivian, and Glass.