/
/
/
/
/
CUPE 50 raises concerns about solid waste and recycling services

CUPE 50 raises concerns about solid waste and recycling services

VICTORIA—CUPE 50 president John Burrows called on Victoria’s Mayor and Council to fully consider the public option in solid waste collection and management. In an address to Council last week, Burrows noted that not only will changes to Victoria’s solid waste collection cost jobs, it will cost residents in terms of quality of service delivery, loss of accountability, and higher costs.

Burrows pointed out that flexibility to change or add to the program without additional charges is a benefit of keeping the service in-house and public.

“Along with the organic waste, let’s bring roadside recycling into our existing solid waste collection program,” said Burrows. “Standards for community health and safety, as well as environmental protection, are best served by public delivery of waste management services.”

The brief included examples of problems in other municipalities who went to private collection. He noted that in Port Moody, council voted to bring the service back in-house after “endless complaints of missed pick-ups, spilled garbage, broken bins, and speeding garbage trucks.”

Despite the fact that 95 per cent of residents are very satisfied with backyard garbage pickup, two of the three options put forward to Mayor and City Council by the City’s management staff, would eliminate it. This change means that Victoria’s elderly residents would have to carry their garbage to the curb.

Council had initially considered 15 options but of the four options discussed with CUPE 50, none had all waste streams being handled by City staff as a fully public service, and none maintain backyard pick-up service.

CUPE 50 put forward three collection options that divert organic waste from the landfill through curbside collection of organics and yard and garden waste. The union recommends bringing blue-box recycling in-house to integrate it with Victoria’s solid waste collection programs so that the City will receive the CRD’s diversion credits.

cope491
Share this

Latest News

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

Budget 2024 tackles economic uncertainty with investments in public services and affordability – CUPE BC

February 22, 2024
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life…
VICTORIA— Budget 2024 continues the BC NDP’s record of making meaningful investments in the public services that matter to people and communities, and creating and expanding programs that make life...

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

District of Chetwynd workers ratify new contract

February 15, 2024
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage…
CHETWYND – After a collaborative round of negotiations CUPE 3052 members, municipal workers in the District of Chetwynd, have overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement includes wage...

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

CUPE 1978 ratifies new agreement with Greater Victoria Housing Society

February 13, 2024
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing…
VICTORIA – CUPE 1978 members at the Greater Victoria Housing Society have ratified a new five-year agreement that provides improved working conditions for CUPE members, as well as enhanced supportive housing...