Quispamsis council refuses to revisit curbside recycling

Quispamsis town council is holding firm on its decision not to participate in a Fundy region-wide curbside recycling program.

Coun. Kirk Miller had asked council Tuesday night to revisit the issue, but his motion failed to get a seconder.

​Mayor Murray Driscoll says his council is a big supporter of recycling but there are too many uncertainties over the cost of the program.

"We have numbers. But we're not certain that those numbers are as accurate as we'd like them to be," he said.

"So the commitment of 15 years. I don't think our council was prepared to commit our community for a 15-year program when we don't really have all the figures."

Town resident Steve Sanderson is appalled at the decision.

"It is a really terrible, negative sign," he said.

"This service could have been put in place for 50 cents a week for everybody. That means every household in this community could have now had curbside recycling."

The Fundy Regional Service Commission has estimated the added cost for Quispamsis to move from existing community blue bin drop-off depots to full curbside recycling pick-up would be about $60,000 a year.

If curbside recycling is rejected, the commission says between $4 million and $6 million will have to be spent to replace the community depots so the program can be continued for the next 15 years.

"This decision should be based on the next 15 years and ensure sustainability of our waste diversion program," the report states.

Driscoll maintains the town could still introduce curbside pickup on its own in future if it so chooses.

Earlier this month, council voted unanimously to stick with the status quo of community bluebin drop-offs.