There are some odd new lawn ornaments popping up in the Midtown area. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Trash Talk

Midtown area soon to be communal bin free

Jun 12, 2019 | 4:26 PM

The city’s roll-out of individual garbage and recycling containers in the midtown area is nearing completion, although some residents have expressed concerns related to being overlooked.

Operations Manager Mohammed Kraishan told paNOW as of Wednesday crews had roughly 30 to 40 per cent left, and he hoped to be done by end of the month, or first week in July.

“Nobody will get missed. Everybody will get their turn when the time has come depending on the plan,” he said.

Kraishan acknowledged he heard some confusion related to home owners feeling as if they had been missed. Kraishan explained the work is being is done in stages, and only a certain number of blocks are being done each stage. Residents have been notified by letter when their block is being addressed.

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The city hopes the move away from communal bins will help curb issues like this. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

Ward three councilor Evert Botha said 98 per cent of the residents he spoke to were satisfied with their new bins, but acknowledged there were a few challenges related to people trying to figure out where they need to store their bins on their property.

“As a whole, most of the residents that I have spoken to have thanked us because we dont have the communal bins that people are dumping their garbage in indiscriminately from all over the city,” he said.

Residents have been told they must return their bin to their property within 24 hours after garbage/ recycling pick up to prevent fires, theft or damage to the bins.

If a homeowner is found to be negligent, the onus will be on them to replace a vandalized bin. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

Residents who don’t abide by the city’s order could face a $100 fine, as per the city’s new waste collection and disposal bylaw. Botha said the move away from communal bins puts responsibility on the homeowners, but also helps clean up the alleys.

“It’s creating less opportunity for petty crimes; we don’t have people hiding around bins anymore, and we don’t have undesired activities taking place behind the bins” he said.

Phase three of the roll out will take place next summer. There has been no decision by city administration as to what neighbourhood may be addressed next.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell