The company that hauls away curbside garbage in the municipality announced Tuesday it will roll out thousands of trash totes to residents in July.
Progressive Waste Solutions officials said they plan to deliver 13,000 of the totes to residents of Chatham over a two-week period, beginning July 6.
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It’s a move that was expected, but is one that still has Chatham-Kent’s director of waste and recycling services in shock.
“I was shocked to learn they were going to make this investment,” he said. “A good shocked. This holds our costs in check for the life of the contract. The cost of this service should remain the same for the next seven years.”
George South, area manager in central Canada for Progressive, said the main reason for the move is for the safety of Progressive personnel.
“At least on a weekly basis, we get driven into,” he said of the 5,000 Progressive trucks on the roads throughout North America, pointing to distracted driving as a big concern for staff safety. “This new automated waste collection service will add convenience for residents and safety for our operators.”
The 15 curbside collection trucks in the Progressive fleet operating in Chatham-Kent operate with one person. The driver, who stands up on the right-hand side of the cab of the truck, can quickly manipulate a hydraulic arm to pick up a garbage tote and dump it in the large hopper located at the front of the truck. When the hopper gets full, the driver lifts the hopper over the cab so it can dump its contents into the back of the truck – all without getting out of the vehicle.
Currently, when a driver encounters traditional trash cans along a route, he or she has to exit the vehicle and empty the cans into the hopper by hand.
South declined to disclose the cost of the investment to Progressive, adding “it’s significant, but something we believe in very strongly.”
South and Mayor Randy Hope agreed the totes will also keep the crows at bay.
“Garbage is not going to be scattered all over,” Hope said if the residents utilize these totes. “And this is at no cost to the taxpayers.”
South said there are two sizes of totes available, the largest being able to handle the municipality’s three-bag weekly waste limit per household. But he realizes some folks may want a smaller tote.
“For those with physical limitations, there is a smaller cart,” he said.
Hope said that could be appealing for some of our seniors.
“We’re an age-friendly community. These carts are light-weight and easy to move,” he said. “No matter what age you are, you can mobilize the container.”
