Editor:
Re: Moving works yard would be ‘cost prohibitive,’ Dec. 25.
White Rock’s director of engineering and municipal operations states he hears what we are saying, however, it is obvious he needs to read our letters again to understand what we are asking for.
It is quite simple: “No garbage of any kind should be handled at the City of White Rock’s works yard!”
Although we support recycling, we believe it does not belong in a residential neighbourhood, especially in a city of this size.
Ever since the recycling program has been in place, the disruption to the neighbourhood has become an issue with local residents. Unknown to most, the garbage picked up from our homes is handled an inordinate amount of times before finally being taken to be disposed of.
This is how many times the organic waste – kitchen scraps – is handled:
1. Picked up in a garbage truck
2. Unloaded into bins in works yard, left overnight
3. Crushed by backhoe or compactor
4. Moved by contractor across yard, often left overnight
5. Eventually full bin is picked up
6. Dumped at final transfer station
This is not what we consider to be very efficient, contrary to Greg St. Louis’s opinion. We feel that by having garbage picked up and taken directly to the final transfer station – handled two times, not six – the city would save a considerable amount of time and money. This would truly be very efficient!
We were taken aback to hear the director of municipal operations state what we are asking for would be cost prohibitive. Our understanding from council was that a report was being prepared by the finance and audit committee because this is a complex issue, before being considered by council.
After only five months at this job, St. Louis appears to be treating long-term residents who have brought these problems forward with disregard, as though problems do not exist or have been dealt with.
As we have stated in our letters to council, once the garbage is removed from this residential area, the disruption by the works yard will diminish. There will be fewer trucks moving garbage from one end of the works yard to the other, less noise and smells from diesel engines, plus, with no garbage, the vermin will have no daily feast and would move on to easier pickings.
The city has a beautiful eco-friendly, million-dollar-plus, operations office building that we know will not be moved.
We ask that the mayor and council consider using some of the area not used for garbage transfer – once it is moved out of the works yard – to be made into a park. White Rock’s firefighters are looking for a place to make one and have been fundraising to create a park.
It would be a much better use for such a valuable piece of property.
Diane & Dave Bradley, White Rock