Langley City Trash Talk: Part 1

If you live in a detached home, plex, or complex with fewer than seven units, Langley City provides garbage and organics collections. Strata complexes must go to the market to find a garbage and organics collection service. Recycling services in Langley City are provided directly by Recycle BC.

Langley City currently contracts out its garbage and organics collection. The current contract is about a decade old and is ending this year. This end of the contract means that the City must either go out to the market for a new contract, bring the garbage and organics collections service in-house, or stop providing this service. For example, Maple Ridge does not provide garbage or organics collection services.

Council decided to continue providing this service and asked staff to look into either going to market for a new contract or bringing the service in-house. In addition, to improve efficiency and reduce injuries, Council asked to implement a semi-automatic collection system with toter bins. For example, the Township of Langley and the City of Surrey use toter systems. Council wanted to see the use of alternate fuel vehicles, an annual hazardous waste event, and large item pickup like we have today.

Example of Toters

At the September 9th Council meeting, City staff proposed signing a seven-year contract with Emterra to provide these services. This proposal went out to public tender. The new contract, of course, had a higher annual price than our current expiring contract.

Council had many questions about the proposed new contract, including cost and level of service. Several members of the Council, including myself, questioned why we didn't have an in-housing service option and if Emetrra was a living wage employer. With so many questions and the seriousness of potentially committing the City to a seven-year contract, Council deferred voting of this matter until the September 23rd meeting to allow City staff time to prepare responses to the Council's question.