| Garbage is a problem everywhere. The Gulf Islands are particularly vulnerable to the potential mess and even danger of unmanaged trash, since their space is so limited. Thetis Island has managed the collection of its trash through T.I.R.R.A. (the Thetis Island Residents' and Ratepayers' Association), the payment for which has been voluntary. Population growth has strained the system, and we are needing to look at ways of continuing to manage this problem sustainably for the future. The Sanitation Committee of T.I.R.R.A. has prepared a report on some of the options, and a survey which they hope you will take the time to fill out before September 24th.
Please feel free to send your comments and discussion to trash@thetisisland.net, which will be published on this page in a blog form so that we can get everyone's input. Thank you!
| Post a message and we'll get it up a.s.a.p.! |
Posted:
September 12, 2007 |
I am in favour of CVRD curbside pickup if it can be accomplished on a long term contract at the estimated costs but I have concerns as to how the
"weekend warriors" are going to participate. My past experience in community garbage issues has shown that SOME weekenders feel they are paying for the service and therefore leave their garbage curbside on Sunday night for whatever weekday pickup might be. Obviously, while the garbage waits to be pickup dogs, rodents, and crows have their way it, leaving an unsightly mess at the very least. Does anyone have any remedy ---- fines??? for those people who are not responsible enough to take their trash with them and leave it curbside 1-5 days early for pickup day? I guess any remedy also leads to "phantom dumping" ---- no easy solutions.
Deb Wilson
|
Posted:
September 11, 2007 |
I do appreciate your comments Will. As has been shown in the past and currently, not everyone is as responsible as you. Before we instituted the monthly recycling, our garbage bins were overflowing due to all of the recyclables in them. These are difficult decisions to make since not everyone participates at the same level. The more non garbage that goes into the bins, the greater our cost since we are paying by weight. (note Ron Bannisters comments) However, if there are enough volunteers to do what you are asking..more power to you. Are you willing to pick it up weekly and commit for the next 5 years...anyone else??
Thank you for your comments...my job is to play devil's advocate and to have all sides discussed. :-)
Barbara Williamson
chair Sanitation Committee
|
Posted:
September 9, 2007 |
In response to your request for community input into the Waste Management
here is my comments/reply.
I do not wish to select either proposal A, B, or C.
If I remember correctly the recycle program was to be tried as an
experimental program on the island. Since its beginning, I have used this
service once.
I take all my recycle off island and I believe it is the responsibility of
all islanders to make the effort to do this. If we, as islanders, keep
asking big brother to make life easier for us, it will, as these proposals
show, keep the cost of living on the Island to go up.
Curbside pick-up was mentioned. (Option B)
What about the same proposal - if this is recommended - to have the six LERN
areas with one person with a small pick up truck to get the recycle every
month. I, for one would be happy to do this - providing the recycle is left
a the curb on the day for recycle. If TIRRA wanted to they could provide a
ferry ticket to those who volunteered to take the recycle off the island.
What if Option A was left as it is now only with an increase to bi-monthly
collection. Now the truck would be large enough to move the recycle off
island.
No matter what you provide, people are either going to recycle or they will
throw the recycle into the garbage as they are doing now. By spending
thousands of dollars (Option C) to provide for the recycle isn't going to
change the habits of those who do not recycle.
Keep well - Will Lennox
|
Posted:
September 2, 2007 |
In response to Bev and Dave Green... this is not a RECYCLING problem,
it is a WASTE problem. If everyone was inclined and responsible they
would take care of their own recyclables which are just part of the
waste stream. Most people just threw their recyclables in with their
garbage before we had a recycling program and they still do. I'm
guessing the recycling program and personal recycling initiatives
manage to steer less than 50% of banned recyclable material out of
the waste stream which currently ends up in the Cache Creek
landfill. The recycling program was started to give people an
option (with no excuse not) to recycle. As far as I can see the
only way to sustain a waste system on Thetis is to close the system
(presently it is an open system) whether or not it accepted
recyclables, this would involve fencing and staffing the site at
certain times. This would even the playing field for everyone.
We do not pay anything to the CVRD for waste removal, however we do
support their recycling initiative in a small way.
In the future the options for people to remove their own recyclables
will become more limited as there is a movement to curbside pickup
negating the need for multi-bins, which are a nuisance to manage and
are often the target of vandalism and arson.
To answer Veronica's question about option B, the CVRD doesn't
actually do the curbside they just tender the bids from private
contractors and subsequently bill us. They are likely to be at least
5 year contracts. Presumably the CVRD option would be the most
reliable, long term. The only money management done is to collect
fees and pay the contractor.
Ron Bannister
|
Posted:
September 2, 2007 |
We've just received our Waste Management Survey and no where on the
sheet is an option for NO RECYCLING. Most people did this before the
Thetis recycling program was set up and could easily do it again.
We don't believe it is right to have to increase our garbage fees just
to accommodate this option.
One question: Do we pay a waste removal fee in our taxes to CVRD?
We would vote for Option E:
Garbage removal with adjustable rates which are mandatory, not
volunteer. Recycling to be done off island by individual households.
Thanks,
Bev and Dave Greene
|
Posted:
August 31, 2007 |
I have a question about Option B: Curbside Recycling and Garbage Pick-up via CVRD. Would this arrangement be on a year by year basis, or is there any kind of longer term commitment to CVRD governance or money management? I incline towards Option B, simply because it is less demanding on volunteers, who are already overstretched in the various other community services. But I would have a problem with giving over any larger decision-making (and taxing) powers to people who don't live here.
On the other hand, I think that those who vote for the other two options should be prepared to put in time doing the actual work, or if it is Option A - the status quo - there has to be a commitment to help make it work for the person who replaces Ron. (And of course, if no-one comes forward to take the job on, it won't matter if Option A gets ALL the votes - we still can't go that route.) We're looking at this question because the job has long grown past what is reasonable to ask of one person, so it seems that both Options A and C are going to require the rest of us getting out there and helping.
Veronica Shelford
|
Posted:
August 19, 2007 |
CVRD is currently in the process of a tendering bids for their curbside program. That will be completed at the end of August. At that time the new rates will be established and I will be able to get "real" numbers from them to share with the community. We are not in the current bid process because we did not have a committment yet from the community on which option would be pursued. However, they can add us in at any time and refigure what our costs will be due to the ferry cost. Also, for CVRD to agree to do curbside garbage and recycling the majority of the islanders must agree. Our area director must be convinced the majority of islanders are behind the proposal. Just more food for thought.By getting community feedback now and at the Fall meeting we think an option that most of the community can support will become clear.
Barbara Williamson
Chair Sanitation Committee
|
Posted:
August 18, 2007 |
More thoughts:
If curb side could be accomplished using the CVRD at the figures shown in the report that is the logical solution. My first impression was that this could not happen without some effort by our CVRD representative. What is the likelihood of this happening? I am with the Frankels, and would favour curb side pickup if it could be accomplished for the figures shown. Can anyone get a commitment from them before we put a lot of energy into pursuing that alternative?
David Vickers
|
Posted:
August 18, 2007 |
We just dropped some garbage. It is really frustrating to see the
site. Once again, a shambles with people leaving recyclables all over.
The options are slowly being narrowed. I think we need (with the
assistance of TIRRA) to develop a strategy to raise some capital and then pursue option 2. At least, for the moment, that's the one that appears most attractive. Then strict enforcement. Perhaps once a
week (say Saturday) for drop off and then only for those paying. We would need to develop a script system, a book of tickets, so much a
drop off. Perhaps have a camera monitor the exterior 24-7 to ensure no one leaves garbage on the exterior of the fence. A well manicured garden on the exterior might also dissuade that kind of drop off.
I realize the summer season presents a real challenge and that is
part of the present unsightly mess. But four seasons a year, the
problem will not go away and the pressure to find a solution
increases with each passing year.
I am not sure that being open only once a week is a big
problem. City dwellers get once a week pick up and they don't complain.
Yours in frustration,
David Vickers
|
Posted:
August 18, 2007 |
Some members of the community already deal personally with all their trash, completely removing from the island everything they deem unneeded--in other words, they take their own trash to the dump. Perhaps we all need to consider this as an option. The hours of work would then be equitably distributed and the island would theoretically have no trash heaps.
Claire Hess
|
Posted:
July 22, '07 |
Thanks for all of the effort to spell out the alternatives. We have the following views to convey:
1. significant volunteer activity for a necessity such as trash collection is not workable
2. curbside collection should be implemented
3. CVRD should be responsible for billing and handling trash
4. The proposed fees, even with possible increases, are modest
5. CVRD should also be responsible for recycling
Bob and Bev Stuart
|
Posted:
July 14, '07 |
For what it is worth, We would favor, Curb Side Pick-Up, and getting on board with the CVRD for trash removal.
Thanks
Steve, Myla & Jacob Frankel
Blue Heron Ridge
|
Posted:
June 30, '07 |
Thank you all for doing the research and setting out the options!
- Veronica |
|
| If you have any comments, suggestions, additions or deletions, please contact us.
back to the top of the page |
|
