As I drove down my short crescent (only 21 houses to the main road) this morning, weaving to avoid empty garbage bins that were turned over (five) and cans that were replaced so far from the curb that two cars could not pass side by side (five more), I wondered what might this look like with four-foot windrows and ice on the road?
I also wondered what brought us to this system? We had a system that seemed to be working. If you missed a week you still got the service you paid for over year if you needed it. We didn’t have to have garbage bins that, with all this rain, have now become disease and stink breeding grounds. We took our garbage as close as we could to where the person could pick it up without impeding traffic or access to driveways. In short — it worked.
It seems we are fixated with garbage. The time spent researching and planning each new system is extensive and just when people are getting it there is a new system. Tag-a-bag was successful in getting people to lessen the amount they put out at the curb and there were viable options for yard waste. There was also enough flexibility to ensure you felt like you were getting your money’s worth.
This is system gives us much less service and flexibility. Imagine the horror of having an extra bag. What does one do, sneak it in the neighbour’s can after dark? Keep it in your garage or shed, letting bugs and stink grow for two more weeks? Take it to the local park and put it in the public can?
The cost of this system is much higher than before. Given less service, less flexibility and that there are garbage can pylons on our roads now, and the likelihood for even more of them blocking roads and tipped over in the winter, my question is why? No one would do this without a goal so what was the goal? Make it harder for people to throw away garbage? Get more money for less service? To be leaders in bringing in a system not designed for our climate or the community? (Don’t put your cans under trees. Have you ever been to old Grandin? The only place there is not a canopy is at the end of my driveway but I have to get out).
I realize no one will change anything. St. Albert has gone all-in on this system so we the homeowners are stuck with it at least until the next multi-million dollar idea from the southern U.S. comes along for garbage disposal in two or three years. It is worth noting that other cities have not gone through all these garbage changes and continue to function just fine.
Dean Heuman, St. Albert
