Port Coquitlam, B.C. - Nov. 7, 2023... Starting in 2025, Port Coquitlam is proposing to offer curbside glass pickup to households receiving City waste services.
The City is also proposing to formalize the pilot Large Item Pickup Program as a permanent in-house program, starting in 2024. Both of the service enhancements received initial approval at today's Committee of Council, when Council reviewed recommendations from the Utility Working Group on water, sewer and waste collection services and rates.
The recommendations will be incorporated into Utility Rate Bylaws scheduled for adoption at Council in January 2024.
"We're looking forward to be able to add curbside glass collection to our recycling services - it's something our residents have been requesting for many years," Mayor Brad West said. "Along with a permanent Large Item Pickup Program, these are big enhancements to our recycling services and will also help us divert more waste away from the landfill. We were pleased to see these recommendations from the Utility Working Group as they looked for ways to improve and modernize our utility services."
Expanded Recycling Services
Port Coquitlam residents currently bring their non-refundable glass to four glass recycling bins located around the community, or to a Return-it Depot. About 120 tonnes of glass are dropped off in the bins each year.
Starting in 2025, the City is proposing to expand its curbside recycling pickup program to include glass collection once a month to about 17,500 households that receive curbside City waste collection and pay the Solid Waste Levy.
The Solid Waste Levy will increase an estimated $1.25 per household for the new service, given that much of the operating cost will be covered by the current glass recycling budget. The City's Cart Reserve would pay for capital costs such as grey glass bins and truck retrofits.
The Large Item Pickup Program, introduced in 2021 as a pilot program, is also proposed to become a formal City-run program in 2024 for households receiving City waste services. The program would continue to provide curbside pickup of up to six large items per year, including furniture, tires, appliances.
The Large Item Pickup program has become popular with residents, with more than 11,000 items collected and properly disposed of through the program up to this summer. The pilot program was temporarily funded through accumulated surplus. The formalized program would be operated by the City and funded through the Solid Waste Levy starting in 2024, at a cost of $19.09 per household.
A Data-Driven Utility Levy Structure
The Utility Working Group, which included both Council and staff members, was tasked with reviewing the City's rate structure and services for City utilities. These services are funded through user-pay levies: water and sewer through a flat rate based on type of dwelling, and waste collection through a Solid Waste Levy based on the number and size of carts in use. Only properties that receive City waste services - primarily single-family homes - pay the Solid Waste Levy.
Although utility rates are updated each year to cover budgeted costs, the overall rate structure has not changed in many years. In line with other municipalities in the region, the Working Group revisited the structure in light of changing demographics.
Because Port Coquitlam does not have residential water metering due to the significant infrastructure costs, the City calculates the levies for different housing types based on estimated use when compared to a single-family home. With single-family homes set at 100 per cent, townhouses have been paying 94 per cent, apartments 89 per cent and secondary suites 100 per cent.
However, 2021 Census data shows the average occupant per housing type is better reflected by the following structure: single-family homes at 100 per cent, townhouses at 90 per cent, apartments at 60 per cent and secondary suites at 60 per cent.
To ensure Port Coquitlam's user-pay utility structure is data-driven and equitable, the Utility Work Group recommended updating the rate structure to reflect the new housing data. A change in the funding source for recycling services is also recommended, moving it from general revenue to the Solid Waste Levy.
The proposed new utility rate structure is revenue-neutral, which means it will not raise more or less funds than the previous structure. However, because moving to a more equitable structure will result in increased costs for single-family homes and townhomes, the recommendation is to phase it in over a five-year period.
Details about specific rates and impacts will be provided at portcoquitlam.ca/utilities once Council approves the new structure in 2024.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]