The City of Langford is looking to increase its role in residential waste collection, and is updating how public garbage cans look and are serviced, after a spike in “overflowing public garbage cans” this year.

Moving forward, Langford will be installing a new style of public trash can, which will feature recycling racks, wildlife-resistant designs, and increased capacity in some areas – after cans were found overflowing in high numbers this past spring and summer.

Additionally, the city is also looking at increasing the frequency at which the garbage from outdoor bins is collected.

“The problem is two-fold, the first problem is that the demand on public waste receptacles has exceeded the current Contract limit for servicing them and the demand is not likely to subside,” reads a staff report reviewed by Langford council at a meeting on Dec. 15

“With the continued increase in population, density, businesses, institutions, and transit, the number of pedestrians in the downtown core is expected to continue to increase and therefore the demand on public waste receptacles as well.”

(City of Langford)(City of Langford)

New city-wide residential garbage collection

Meanwhile, Langford is looking at hiring a single contractor to collect residential garbage, instead of the current private contractor system.

Currently, residents are able to subscribe to a range of different garbage hauling firms. This system has some benefits – like low prices for people who only need a small load of garbage picked up regularly.

However, it comes with downsides as well. Large households need to pay more for bigger collections, and city staff say that on average Langford residents are paying more for garbage pick up than other municipalities that have a single municipally-contracted or operated garbage collection system.

It adds that some residents may choose to opt out entirely of paying for their own garbage collection under the current system, which contributed to the overflowing garbage cans seen this year, as workers noticed an increase in household trash in the public bins.

Staff say there’s also inefficiencies to having multiple garbage companies servicing one city.

“If there is no coordination between companies, this means that there may be garbage cans out on the street overnight several days in a bi-weekly period. This could attract more wildlife and rodents than if the garbage cans were only out once every two weeks on any singular street,” reads the staff report.

“Also, overlapping routes between multiple companies likely means more fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, traffic congestion, and wear and tear on the road network.”

Staff noted that while the municipality could run its own garbage collection service – instead of hiring a contractor – it recommended using a contractor since an in-house service would require more upfront costs to pay for things like equipment, maintenance and labour.

The staff report added that while some residents may have to pay more for a city-wide contractor compared to the current system, it says that on average residents will save money under the municipal contractor system, from an average annual price of $560 to $360 after the switch.

The report also recommended that further engagement take place with an experienced consultant “to review and verify the staff recommendation to proceed with a municipally-contracted residential curbside garbage collection service,” followed by a period of public engagement. further engagement with the public.

Ultimately, Langford council went with the recommendation and directed staff to work with a consultant and prepare a municipal garbage service contract if feasible. 

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