Nanaimo’s garbage rates will climb next month as the city prepares to pay for automated collection.
Nanaimo city council adopted a bylaw Monday that will increase rates by 15 per cent beginning July 1 to pay for automated solid waste collection service, which begins for central Nanaimo households this fall. The increase is on top of a two-per cent hike earlier this year.
The new program will cost around $7.5 million for public education, new bins and garbage trucks and will start in central Nanaimo before expanding to other parts of the city next year when the City of Nanaimo will also consider a new user rate. Previously, city staff estimated rates would go up to about $170. The city currently has a request for proposals out, which closes at the end of this month. Charlotte Davis, city manager of sanitation, recycling and public works previously told the News Bulletin the city will have much closer idea of where it’s going to come in around that $170 when it knows the cost of carts and trucks.
Nanaimo city councillors Bill Yoachim and Bill Bestwick were opposed to the motion on adoption.
To read more about the city’s program, including a map of the homes that will be serviced by automated trucks this year, click here.