The City of St. Albert's 2013 Report on the Environment is out and is filled with all kinds of platitudes and targets that are being met or exceeded. However, one statistic that is clearly missing is customer satisfaction; this is because it would receive a failing grade.
Bi-weekly garbage collection has resulted in over-flowing bins and people dumping garbage in park trash cans. As many residents sorely recall, garbage collection and its associated fees were originally based on weekly collection. Taking excess garbage and recyclables to the eco yard on a Sunday in order to compensate for the lack of pick up: well, sorry, no. Because it's closed.
As for the green bins, winter usage appears to be at perhaps 25 per cent, which means it's a money loser. In the spring, weekly pick-up doesn't start until May. This doesn't help us with the tree pruning that starts in March and April, or the other yard clean-up that is well underway by then. I've taken eight bags of spring clean-up to the compost yard already this year; again, at my cost. Why isn't there a spring leaf and grass pick-up like there is in the fall?
This waste collection system is simply not delivering value for money and provides a level of service far below expectations. Is there a champion on city council willing to fix this mess?
Jeff Bertram, St. Albert
