Tenders to be called for garbage collection

By Amy Woolvett

THE COAST GUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The stink of the high costs of waste collection has forced the Joint Service Board to look at cost saving alternatives.

The Joint Service Board’s (JSB) solid waste collection and transportation will be going to tender this week in an attempt to alleviate some of the $614,000 (2009/2010 budget) it costs to take away the trash.

The JSB covers the waste collection for the three municipal units of Shelburne, Lockeport and the Municipality of Shelburne including pick-up and transportation of organic materials, waste and recyclables.

“We are going to ask that the service remain identical to what people receive today,” says Heidi Wagner of the JSB. “We are looking at all aspect so that it is cheaper for the resident.”

The tender will open on Monday, Nov. 2 and will continue until Nov. 30th.

The fleet of trucks will also be available for sale.

“It might be a fishing expedition to see if the cost of contracting out is cheaper than what it costs to run it ourselves,’ says Wagner.

Wagner says that there are so many associated costs for the units to be running their own collection including the union workers, trucks and shipping to the Queen’s landfill.

“We are the only municipality in the province of Nova Scotia that still operates their own solid waste collection,” says Wagner.