I am strongly against the proposal that CVRD take over garbage/organics collection in Areas A, B and C. In fact, the opportunity for ticket purchase throughout CVRD should be expanded.
Paying a flat annual fee is a disincentive for households to reduce their garbage. To its credit, CVRD has promoted the use of composters by offering them for sale at a reduced price. We bought one and it has helped reduce our garbage significantly. Everyone should be strongly encouraged to compost as much as possible. We recycle everything possible, even if it is not collected by CVRD.
We put out a full recycling tote every 12 weeks, which means we pay $10.85 each time, based on the $47 annual fee.
We have reduced our garbage collection to two, or rarely, three times a year, using one large yellow bag each time. The last batch of tickets cost $22, so our yearly total for garbage collection is only $7.33, or $10.98 if it’s collected three times a year.
If CVRD embarks on a new collection system for a flat fee of $102 or $165 annually, there is no incentive to reduce household garbage. When we put a ticket on each bag to be collected, we know exactly what it costs. We do not want to subsidize those who don’t care about how much garbage they produce. We would fight hard to be exempted from the new program, and continue our collection by the private business which now serves us so well.
Martha Fraser
Mill Bay