Quispamsis prepares to launch curbside recycling

Quispamsis is gearing up for the long-awaited launch of curbside recycling on May 9.

Blue bins for paper and cardboard and green bins for plastic, metal and milk cartons are being dropped off at every home.

Mayor Murray Driscoll says all of the bins are expected to be delivered within 10 days.

The community drop–off depots will be phased out in the coming months.

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Council voted last August to bring in a town–wide garbage collection system by the beginning of the year, and switch from community recycling depots to curbside collection by May.

The changes are expected to raise the tax rate by about two cents per $100 of assessment, said Driscoll.

'Big savings'

"If you have a house of $200,000, you're going to be paying about $43 for total garbage and probably $64 if your house is worth 300,000," he said.

"It's a good deal for everyone," said Driscoll, describing it as a "big savings," compared to the approximately $310 homeowners used to have to pay private contractors.

Fero Waste and Recycling was awarded a four–year, $558,000 contract.

Reactions mixed

Resident Larry Darling is looking forward to having his recycling picked up every two weeks. "Works a hundred per cent for me," he said.

But not everyone is happy about the switch.

"I can see this being a problem for older people," or anyone with mobility issues, said John Roherty, referring to the curbside bins being too heavy to carry to the end of their driveways.

Russell MacDonald also believes there will be problems with curbside collection. "I think when people start putting it out the wind's going to blow everything all over the place, and it's going to be in the ditches and you're going to have to clean ditches up."

A survey by the local waste commission has indicated 57 per cent of the people in Quispamsis support curbside pickup.

 In 2014, Quispamsis had rejected a proposal for a Fundy region recycling program.

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

Driscoll had said, at the time, there were many uncertainties over the cost of the regional program, and the new contract with Fero seemed consistent with what other communities pay.

The neighbouring town of Rothesay launched its program last fall.

Participation in Rothesay is about 90 per cent — far greater than expected, officials have said.