Curbside Collection Changes

Friday, 8 February 2019 at 08:20

Woodstock residents will see their bulk item collection picked up only twice a year.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock City Council made a minor revision to the Curbside Bulk Item Collection schedule.

Council approved the schedule change during last night's council meeting, going from six to two cycles per year.

Mayor Trevor Birtch confirmed the revision.

"It will be picked up twice a year. And if you look historically, people will remember from way back we had just a spring pick up and we've been continuing to try to reduce our waste and better handle recycling these large items. And council in the past had updated those bulk item pickups to as much as six times per year. So now, with the new facility operating, we're going to reduce it to two pickups per year."

The original schedule caused confusion for residents in the past, often forgetting when to put out the material or forgetting about the five item size limit. Residents can put up to five large items to the curb that cannot fit into bags for the city to pick up. These items include beds and couches.

Birtch says reducing the cycle still provides the same services to homeowners and helps saves money for the city.

"For homeowners here in Woodstock it demonstrates that we're continuing to offer the best level of service, and make sure that we're keeping a close watch on the dollars and cents that we're spending."

The city budgets approximately $113,410 for the curbside bulk item collection per year and by reducing the cycle to twice a year, it will save approximately $73,000.

The reduction will also allow residents to use the EnviroDepot more often. The facility allows residents to dump an unlimited amount of items and household hazardous waste in the EnviroDepot four times a week. The facility also collects material that is a part of the curbside bulk item collection.

The schedule was the only change in the program. Other aspects such as when to put out the material and suitability of material will remain the same.