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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the City of Port Coquitlam changing to an alternate-week garbage collection schedule in January 2010?
Who will be affected by the new garbage collection schedule?
When will the new schedule come into effect?
Will I have enough room in my garbage cart if it is only collected every two weeks?
What are the costs if I change to a larger cart, or get an extra cart?
I'm concerned about the possibility of extra odour and mess due to the new schedule. What can I do?
This seems like a service reduction. Will my taxes go down as a result?
I'm worried we'll have more problems with bears because our garbage will only be collected every two weeks.
Why is the City of Port Coquitlam changing to an alternate-week garbage collection schedule in January 2010?
The main reason for the change is to reduce how much waste we are sending to the landfill. The new schedule is designed to encourage local households to divert 75% of their household waste away from their garbage cart and into their green/kitchen waste and recycling carts. This will potentially divert 2,400 tonnes per year of household waste away from the garbage.
Who will be affected by the new garbage collection schedule?
The new schedule will apply to anyone receiving waste collection services from the City. This does not include multi-family residences, which do not pay for garbage pick-up in their municipal taxes.
When will the new schedule come into effect?
The new schedule will take effect in on January 14, 2010. Click here to download a PDF of the 2010 Zone Map and Schedule.
Will I have enough room in my garbage cart if it is only collected every two weeks?
The City’s standard 240 L garbage carts are already larger than standard carts provided by some other cities, including Port Moody (120 L), Kelowna (120 L), Burnaby (180 L) and New Westminster (180 L).
As well, green/kitchen waste carts will be collected weekly between mid-May and mid-November. This will help address capacity issues because 48% of household waste is compostable material that can go into the green/kitchen waste cart, according to a recent Metro Vancouver waste audit.
Residents who find they need more capacity can switch to a larger cart or add extra carts (see question below).
What are the costs if I change to a larger cart, or get an extra cart?
The chart below shows the projected fees for the Solid Waste Levy that will be included on your tax bill in 2010, as well as the additional annual fees for extra or larger carts. Please note that the levy will be finalized during the 2010 budget process.
The one-time administrative/delivery fee will be waived in 2010 for those switching to larger green/kitchen waste or recycling carts, or those who switch to a 120 L garbage cart once they are available in summer 2010.
I'm concerned about the possibility of extra odour and mess due to the new schedule. What can I do?
The City will collect green/kitchen waste carts weekly between mid-May and mid-November, which will capture the prime gardening times and the warmest months of the year.
Unfortunately, compostable/biodegradable plastic-type bags are not accepted in the green/kitchen waste carts because they hinder the composting process for the City’s service provider. However, placing food scraps in newspaper, paper bags or kraft paper liner bags will reduce odour and mess in your green/kitchen waste cart. Click here for more trouble-shooting tips for your green/kitchen waste cart.
As for garbage, placing smelly items in strong and well-sealed garbage bags will significantly reduce odour and mess in your garbage cart. Click here for some additional tips for your garbage.
This seems like a service reduction. Will my taxes go down as a result?
The change to the garbage collection schedule is just one part of the City’s waste-reduction strategy. Another key part of this strategy was the expansion of the Kitchen Waste Collection Program in November 2009 to include all food scraps and food-soiled papers (Port Coquitlam was the first city in Metro Vancouver to offer this service).
As well, residents will see an increase in green/kitchen waste collection service in 2010. The City will collect green/kitchen waste carts weekly between mid-May and mid-November.
Finally, the program will help shield taxpayers from rising garbage disposal costs, which are expected to almost double in the next five years. The result could be a savings of $225,000, achieved by the diversion of household waste away from the garbage cart and into the green/kitchen waste and recycling carts.
Because waste services are a direct pass-through cost to taxpayers, any savings achieved will be reflect in the annual tax bill.
I'm worried we'll have more problems with bears because our garbage will only be collected every two weeks.
Weekly green/kitchen waste collection between mid-May and mid-November will help to address this concern, as long as your household diverts all of its food scraps and food-soiled papers into your green/kitchen waste cart.
Property owners in the enforcement area for the Solid Waste Bylaw bear regulations will continue to be responsible for obtaining wildlife locking devices for their garbage and green/kitchen waste carts (their other option is to secure their carts inside a wildlife-proof enclosure, such as a garage). However, the City will pay to move the locks if a larger or smaller cart is required.
Who will be affected by the new garbage collection schedule?
When will the new schedule come into effect?
Will I have enough room in my garbage cart if it is only collected every two weeks?
What are the costs if I change to a larger cart, or get an extra cart?
I'm concerned about the possibility of extra odour and mess due to the new schedule. What can I do?
This seems like a service reduction. Will my taxes go down as a result?
I'm worried we'll have more problems with bears because our garbage will only be collected every two weeks.
Why is the City of Port Coquitlam changing to an alternate-week garbage collection schedule in January 2010?
The main reason for the change is to reduce how much waste we are sending to the landfill. The new schedule is designed to encourage local households to divert 75% of their household waste away from their garbage cart and into their green/kitchen waste and recycling carts. This will potentially divert 2,400 tonnes per year of household waste away from the garbage.
Who will be affected by the new garbage collection schedule?
The new schedule will apply to anyone receiving waste collection services from the City. This does not include multi-family residences, which do not pay for garbage pick-up in their municipal taxes.
When will the new schedule come into effect?
The new schedule will take effect in on January 14, 2010. Click here to download a PDF of the 2010 Zone Map and Schedule.
Will I have enough room in my garbage cart if it is only collected every two weeks?
The City’s standard 240 L garbage carts are already larger than standard carts provided by some other cities, including Port Moody (120 L), Kelowna (120 L), Burnaby (180 L) and New Westminster (180 L).
As well, green/kitchen waste carts will be collected weekly between mid-May and mid-November. This will help address capacity issues because 48% of household waste is compostable material that can go into the green/kitchen waste cart, according to a recent Metro Vancouver waste audit.
Residents who find they need more capacity can switch to a larger cart or add extra carts (see question below).
What are the costs if I change to a larger cart, or get an extra cart?
The chart below shows the projected fees for the Solid Waste Levy that will be included on your tax bill in 2010, as well as the additional annual fees for extra or larger carts. Please note that the levy will be finalized during the 2010 budget process.
The one-time administrative/delivery fee will be waived in 2010 for those switching to larger green/kitchen waste or recycling carts, or those who switch to a 120 L garbage cart once they are available in summer 2010.
I'm concerned about the possibility of extra odour and mess due to the new schedule. What can I do?
The City will collect green/kitchen waste carts weekly between mid-May and mid-November, which will capture the prime gardening times and the warmest months of the year.
Unfortunately, compostable/biodegradable plastic-type bags are not accepted in the green/kitchen waste carts because they hinder the composting process for the City’s service provider. However, placing food scraps in newspaper, paper bags or kraft paper liner bags will reduce odour and mess in your green/kitchen waste cart. Click here for more trouble-shooting tips for your green/kitchen waste cart.
As for garbage, placing smelly items in strong and well-sealed garbage bags will significantly reduce odour and mess in your garbage cart. Click here for some additional tips for your garbage.
This seems like a service reduction. Will my taxes go down as a result?
The change to the garbage collection schedule is just one part of the City’s waste-reduction strategy. Another key part of this strategy was the expansion of the Kitchen Waste Collection Program in November 2009 to include all food scraps and food-soiled papers (Port Coquitlam was the first city in Metro Vancouver to offer this service).
As well, residents will see an increase in green/kitchen waste collection service in 2010. The City will collect green/kitchen waste carts weekly between mid-May and mid-November.
Finally, the program will help shield taxpayers from rising garbage disposal costs, which are expected to almost double in the next five years. The result could be a savings of $225,000, achieved by the diversion of household waste away from the garbage cart and into the green/kitchen waste and recycling carts.
Because waste services are a direct pass-through cost to taxpayers, any savings achieved will be reflect in the annual tax bill.
I'm worried we'll have more problems with bears because our garbage will only be collected every two weeks.
Weekly green/kitchen waste collection between mid-May and mid-November will help to address this concern, as long as your household diverts all of its food scraps and food-soiled papers into your green/kitchen waste cart.
Property owners in the enforcement area for the Solid Waste Bylaw bear regulations will continue to be responsible for obtaining wildlife locking devices for their garbage and green/kitchen waste carts (their other option is to secure their carts inside a wildlife-proof enclosure, such as a garage). However, the City will pay to move the locks if a larger or smaller cart is required.
