Mayors, CEOs meet to talk waste collection

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Jan. 16, 2014
By Simon Martin

Long delays in garbage and recycling pick up in recent weeks caused enough havoc for the northern six municipalities’ mayors and CAOs to meet today to determine how to move forward.

“We are very disappointed,” Stouffville Mayor Wayne Emmerson said of the service. Mr. Emerson was the one who called for the meeting. Inclement weather in recent weeks had caused numerous pickup delays by contractor Green For Life. While some of the circumstances for delay were understandable, Mr. Emmerson said there needs to be a big improvement in communication.

“I think residents understand delays. They just needed to know when they can put their garbage on the curb,” he said.

What made the problem worse, according to Mr. Emerson, is when residents called, GFL’s phone system wasn’t answering. All northern six municipalities are intent on getting to the bottom of this problem, Mr. Emerson continued.

“We spend a lot of money on garbage. We will get on top of this,” he said.

GFL has held the contract since 2012, after it purchased the previous provider, Turtle Island. The northern six municipalities entered the contract together because it represented significant cost savings at the time, Mr. Emerson said.

The CAOs are reviewing the contract, which runs until 2017.

A representatives from GFL was at a Newmarket council meeting this week to apologize for the delay.

“I wish we could have done something to improve the collections,” GFL Environmental Corp. district manager Craig Nelson said. “It’s something we’re not used to. We understand there are issues with our collection. It’s being looked at very seriously.”

GFL has taken several steps to address the issues, such as hiring several mechanics and placing more efficient collection trucks in its fleet.

Company representatives also pledge to improve communication with the towns, so residents can be alerted to potential problems earlier.

Going forward, Mr. Emerson said the northern six municipalities are going to take their collective concerns to GFL to make sure everything goes back to normal.