The town is implementing a new but “fair” fee structure at the waste transfer site for trailers hauling garbage that are longer than eight feet.
And the town will also be vigilant in not allowing any trailer that is longer than 12 feet.
“When we introduced the limit on eight-foot trailers it was an attempt to encourage larger loads to go off to a bigger facility like Horn Hill,” said Craig Teal, the town's planning and operational services director. “Over the course of the last year we had a chance to see what is happening, and there is some frustration.
“ People would show up with a 10-foot trailer,” he added. “Technically they were supposed to be turned away because it is bigger than an eight-foot trailer, even though they may be carrying the same volume as an eight-foot trailer.”
As the proposed change will require an amendment to the Waste Bylaw, council could only pass first reading on April 28. Second and third reading of the bylaw is expected to be heard on May 12. If the amendment is approved the changes to the rules and fee structure will take effect on June 1.
Teal said the issue was brought up during the review of services provided by the facility, which is being moved from its current southwest location to a new site at the north end of the town yard near the intersection of 57 Avenue and 37 Street.
The committee considered the installation of a weigh scale as a way of charging users based on the weight of the materials to be dropped off but the cost of $140,000 was deemed excessive. Instead, it was decided to introduce a new fee structure for trailers larger than eight feet and no longer than 12 feet.
“We are trying to be a little bit more flexible and allow up to a 12-foot trailer but also we're trying to make it fair so a person who brings an eight-foot trailer shouldn't have to pay the same price as someone who brings a loaded-up 12-foot trailer,” said Teal, conceding the changes will bring in additional revenue to the town. However, he emphasized the primary motivation is to allow for larger trailers and to make the fee structure more fair.
Users of the waste transfer site will see a trailer longer than eight feet but equal to or shorter than 12 feet charged $50 for a full load of either residential, construction, industrial or commercial waste. That is $15 more than a trailer eight feet long or shorter. For partial loads, the fee will be $35, compared to $20 for trailers eight feet long or shorter.
For bulk recyclables and yard waste, users with full load trailers longer than eight feet will be charged $35, compared to $25 for units shorter than eight feet. Partial loads will cost $25.
The town is also raising the fee for dropping off a fridge or freezer at the waste transfer site. It is a move to offset the cost of removing the Freon from the appliances, said Teal.
“We are increasing that by $5 to cover some of our out of hand costs, from $40 to $45, because we pay a technician to come onto the site and we were not recovering our full amount of money,” said Teal.
