GUELPH – With weekly curbside collection of waste returning to the downtown areas of Fergus and Elora, Wellington County officials note other member municipalities are free to request additional service if desired.
Weekly garbage pickup in the downtowns comes as a result of an agreement between the Township of Centre Wellington and the Wellington County’s waste pickup contractor.
“The downtown businesses of those two communities were looking for more service. Staff reached out to waste management and got pricing on that service enhancement,” solid waste services (SWS) chair Steve O’Neal told Wellington County councillors on June 29.
A staff report from SWS manager Das Soligo explained that with the initiation of the county’s green bin program in the summer of 2020, the frequency of waste collection was reduced from weekly service to every other week.
“This change is consistent with the majority of municipalities who provide organics collection service, as the bi-weekly waste collection service incentives the use of weekly organics and recycling services,” Soligo explained in the report.
However, following a delegation seeking more service in the downtown areas, Centre Wellington council asked the county to explore increased frequency of waste collection in the downtown areas of Fergus and Elora.
The report states Centre Wellington subsequently accepted a quote for enhanced service from Waste Management.
“The township of Centre Wellington is paying for the extra collection, the county is not, and it is approximately $700 a week,” said O’Neil.
Soligo’s report indicates solid waste services will monitor the service and report on whether there are any noteworthy impacts to the overall curbside collection service.
If other towns or townships make a similar request for additional waste collection service, the report notes, SWS will make inquiries to Waste Management to request pricing.
He added county officials will ensure the company’s “ability to meet contract requirements will continue to be met with the addition of any further increased service levels to downtown areas.”
