Progressive Waste ‘excited’ about new garbage tote program

A new garbage tote system has started in Wallaceburg this week.

Large tote bins have started being delivered to Wallaceburg homes as part of a trial project, which also began in Tilbury a few weeks ago by Progressive Waste Solutions.

Some people in the community are happy with the program, while others are not.

Wes Muir, director of of government and public relations for Progressive Waste Solutions, told the Sydenham Current they are looking forward to rolling out the program throughout Chatham-Kent this year.

“We’re really excited about bringing this side loaded, automated cart system,” Muir said. “It is where everybody is going to as far as collection in North America. Chatham-Kent will be one of the early adopters of this technology we’re using in Canada. We’re seeing it as a great example of how this will be rolled out in other parts of Canada as well.”

Muir said the trial period is underway now in Tilbury and Wallaceburg.

“We’ll be continuing in Chatham-Kent later in the year. In Chatham-Kent, all of the carts will be deposited to all of the residents by mid-year. We’re just rolling it out throughout the year,” Muir said.

In order to accommodate for the new bins, Muir said the collection vehicles for Progressive Waste Solutions in Chatham-Kent have been changed to be automated side loaders.

“These are increasingly being used across North America, primarily to help us improve the safety conditions for our employees as well as our customers, rather than collecting waste in a rear loading vehicle,” he said.

“By having it in the front we take all the activity, it’s automated, they have an arm that comes out from the truck, hooks onto the cart, takes the cart materials, dumps it into the container and returns the cart back at the end of the driveway.”

Muir added: “It also has an environmental benefit because the materials can be contained in a cart. So, you don’t have bags of garbage exposed to animals and crows, which led to a lot of issues we found, creating a lot of litter in the area.”

Muir said the carts themselves are a one time, flat fee of $75.

“There is a seven-year warranty on the cart. When people get the cart delivered on their driveway, inside the cart will be a note. We’ll be sending them a letter in the mail as well, and they will be instructed on how to pay for that cart.

Muir said if residents don’t want the cart, they don’t have to purchase it.

“We will come and pick it up… but we are really encouraging our customers purchase this cart. We put it at a price point that is considerably less than what you would pay at commercial outlets. It is designed to help the health and safety of our employees and obviously the safety of our customers. There are safety benefits and environmental benefits.”

Muir said people can try out the carts as soon as they are delivered.

“As soon as they get the cart they can start using it automatically, and our garbage trucks will be coming by and picking them up. If they want to return it, they can call and we can some pick it up. We can get a lot more of the materials diverted by these carts, it’s not only the health and safety and environmental benefits, it is also increases diversions rates as has been shown when you use these carts throughout North America.”

Muir said the company should have done things differently when the program was started in Tilbury.

“I think there was a little bit of confusion with the program. In all fairness, we could have done a better job communicating. That is why we are going out and putting ads in the paper. We want people to have a better understanding of what we are doing here.”

Muir said if people decline to use the garbage toters, Progressive Waste Solutions will still pick up the trash in more standard garbage bins or bags.

“We’ll still pick up the garbage. We have a responsibility to pick up the garbage and we will. If there is a senior citizen with a small little mail bag of garbage, that is fine. We’ll pick that up. It’s when you have typical households that have multiple bags of garbage… if we can put all the garbage into the carts, it makes it easier for our people to go pick this material up.”

Residents in Wallaceburg have had mixed feelings about the new program.

“The poorly researched plan by the company has been horribly executed,” said Janine Vandenberg. “A plan as such was attempted back in 1984/1985, if I recall correctly. It went over like a lead balloon.”

Vandenberg said the immediate problem is “the totes are being forced on folks who don’t want or need such a huge container.

“They are being told they have to participate in the trial period and the have to pay $75 to keep them. We put out a kitchen catcher sized bag of garbage, if that, each week. On the very rare occasion we have almost a full sized bag. So we have no need for a huge garbage tote taking up valuable garage space,” she said.

A good portion of Wallaceburg is the same way, Vandenberg added.

“The totes are a financial hardship for some. They are not necessary for many. The totes are simply too big to store indoors or outdoors and with a value of $75, are a target for theft. They will result in job loss. Wallaceburg doesn’t need them but rather an effective waste reduction program.”

Wallaceburg’s Lori Turner said she is going to give the totes a try.

“I will use it for now,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll keep it because we usually have only one bag of garbage in a week and I have two small garbage cans with lids already. I doubt I’ll keep it.”

Staecy Foulon said her family intends on keeping the totes.

“Those larger totes seem to be a better alternative than having the bags torn open and garbage all over the street… or having the smaller cans and the lids tossed and broken or rolling around on the road when it’s windy. And the $75 price is cheaper than what the stores sell them for,” Foulon said on Facebook.

For more information visit www.progressivewaste.com or call them at 519-360-9435, ext. zero.