Editor:
Re: Process is misunderstood, March 23 letters
The council members’ letter states: “… the need for special collection provisions for new and large multi-family buildings, created inefficiencies in the City’s solid waste collection system.”
They go on to say that that was one of the reasons for privatizing. If I am interpreting this correctly, these “new and large multi-family buildings” that tower over the city have indeed placed a strain on the infrastructure and services of White Rock.
Instead of factoring this issue into projections and planning, it was much easier to abandon waste management for a large section of the population.
The City calls it “privatization.”
The City of Calgary privatized a sector of their waste management in 2022. They sent out a tender for those services, previously covered by city employees, and a seven-year contract was awarded.
What did White Rock do? They washed their hands of the whole thing, while citizens had to make all their own arrangements for individualized services, which resulted in this chaos.
The City now says that should they go back to assuming the responsibility of recycling, the cost to individuals would be higher. How much higher? And what about the cost of non-recyclable waste? Did the city receive multiple quotes from waste management companies?
When City Hall recently told citizens they were considering reinstating municipal waste collection services, they did not present a proper plan for stratas who still needed to honour their existing contracts with waste- management companies, and indicated instead that everyone would have to pay for municipal service.
It was not right to expect citizens to double-pay. Creating a comprehensive streamlined system that would allow a gradual, staggered re-entry into a City-managed or City-contracted garbage/recycling service should be considered. This would allow people to sign on as their existing contracts with individual waste management contractors expire. They would be on the same footing as a new building in the city.
How about providing some figures and projections and have the citizens of White Rock vote on the issue?
Currently, citizens are being subjected to noise and exhaust fumes round the clock and throughout the week due to the constant parade of garbage trucks. As more of these unwelcome high-rises continue to be erected, the higher the toll will be on the quality of the air we breathe. So much for “greening” White Rock.
Lynda Hornby, White Rock