The city's commercial garbage collection service will come to an end later this summer in order to direct resources to cleaning up illegal dumping sites, litter, and improperly disposed hypodermic needles.
A report on the topic will be provided to Council at this Monday's meeting.
In February, staff presented council with a summary of solid waste services. The report highlighted increasing operational challenges, particularly in the clean-up of illegal dumping, roadside litter, and used needles, and administration has decided that service delivery must be adjusted to compensate.
"With approximately 200 accounts located throughout the city of Prince George, the twice-per-week commercial service is time-consuming with collection vehicles travelling more than 100 kilometres a day," said parks and solid waste services manager Sean LeBrun. "It is estimated that a total of 14 hours of staff time per week could be redirected to other operational priorities."
Council recently approved a two-per-cent user fee increase each year for 2016, 2017, and 2018 to ensure revenues cover operating costs while continuing to increase a reserve fund for future capital infrastructure renewals.
The elimination of the commercial service will result in a loss of about $60,000 per year in
revenue, which will be offset slightly by the reduction in tipping fees and equipment costs, according to staff. The net loss to the solid waste utility is anticipated to be $45,000, which would be absorbed over the next three years by the utility's increases.
Staffing levels in solid waste services will not be affected, the review indicates.
Commercial businesses that are currently being serviced by the city will receive letters notifying them of the decision, a last service date of Sept. 2 and contact information for private waste hauler service providers.
