Editor, The News:
Re: Council considers garbage pickup (The News, April 1).
This issue has been debated for far too long and is only being brought up again by a few councillors who seem to have this garbage as a priority on their agendas.
I agree with Coun. Craig Spiers that if the city handles garbage pickup it will be the biggest tax increase we have ever seen.
The average cost quoted was $288 per house for this convenience.
The true addition for the taxpayers, with the new tipping fees, is that we will pay $300 to $350 a year for any contractor to pick up waste from our homes.
The transit plebiscite, if approved, would add another $135 a year or so in taxes.
Then property taxes increase every year.
The cost of basic needs such as Hydro and heating go up annually, as well.
Add up all those increases together and it’s starting to get pretty expensive.
I hope this puts the garbage issue in perspective.
Like Coun. Spiers, I take my garbage to the dump and I can show through receipts that I keep the amount to $130 a year.
There must be options on this issue for people like seniors and others on fixed incomes.
Having half a container of garbage a week and paying $300 a year to collect it is ludicrous.
We should ne concentrating on our new organic waste program instead.
Now that the Maple Ridge transfer station has bins set up for organic waste, maybe the city could offer some small metal containers for households, at a minimal cost, to easily dispose of organic material into those bins at the transfer station, to ensure it is separated from regular garbage.
Bob Hebron
Maple Ridge