Directors unanimously voted to adopt an amendment to the waste collection bylaw to raise garbage collection fees for residents living in the rural areas of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
Fees have increased to $154.25 from $146.90 annually. Those living in a mobile home park will now be charged $130.04, up from $123.85.
The $2.50 price for tags to dispose of extra garbage has remained the same.
The amendment was made in anticipation of a new waste collection contract with Waste Management that could lead to a transition away from weekly pickup of 77-litre containers to a biweekly pickup of 120-litre containers.
The contract for waste collection in Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone and West Howe Sound expired in February and defaulted to a month-to-month arrangement.
Directors have been deliberating on how to proceed, including whether to switch to a biweekly pickup schedule that would include curbside collection of organics and recycling.
On March 21, after Coast Reporter’s print deadline, directors were anticipated to make a decision about whether to award Waste Management the approximately $2.3-million five-year contract for curbside garbage collection.
The switch from weekly to biweekly garbage collection would occur only once directors vote to move ahead with biweekly organics and recycling collection.
The District of Sechelt uses Waste Management for collection services. The Town of Gibsons had a contract with Waste Management but has recently approved a five-year contract with Salish Soils and AJM Disposal Services for garbage and organics collection.
