The President of the Bluewater Recycling Association is encouraging more municipalities to join their automated collection program.
Francis Veilleux explains that waste and recyclable material would be packed in a large wheelie bin that would replace the blue box. It would be picked up either weekly, or every two weeks, by a specially-designed truck that picks the bin up and dumps it.
Veilleux says the automated program saves the customer money. He explains that under the current system the customer has to buy garbage bags and garbage bag tags, which only cover part of the cost, the rest is charged in taxes.
Under the automated program, the customer pays an annual fee which is lower than the combined cost of bags, tags and taxes.
Veilleux also points out it saves the company money because it takes less time to pick up than with the conventional blue boxes. There are also fewer injuries to employees.
One of the concerns with the larger wheelie bins is the potential for them to be blown away and damaged on a windy day. Veilleux says a wheelie bin is designed to withstands winds of up to 70 kilometres and hour, and if one is damaged Bluewater Recycling will replace it.
