Residents in Tecumseh are in for a big change in their regular waste collection routine. Councillors have approved a move to bi-weekly garbage pickup.
With the contract with the current waste disposal provider expiring next year, the town issued a Request for Proposals earlier this year. Two submissions were made, but maintaining service levels would increase the waste collection budget by 263 per cent.
Moving to bi-weekly collection would still increase the current $750,000 budget, but not by as much. Averaging the two proposals, the increase would be between 18 and 177 per cent.
Town staff recommended residential and commercial garbage pickup every other Thursday. With the introduction of the green bin program, much of that waste is already diverted from the landfill. By making the move, both garbage and organic waste can be picked up on the same day.
Yard waste pickup would be weekly, and bulky item collection would be the last Thursday of the month.
The town's evaluation committee will weigh both proposals next and come back to council at its next meeting with a report so councillors can award the contract.
