SAINT-LAZARE (Québec), January 5, 2009
We wish to remind you that starting this January 7, 2009, the garbage
pickup schedule will take place every two weeks until mid-May. The
garbage will therefore be collected on Wednesday, January 7, January 21,
February 4, February 18, etc. and will not be collected on January 14,
January 28, February 11, February 25 and so on. Keep the calendar
recently published in the December Liaisons or subscribe to our emails
at ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca/subscription
to receive notices of the frequency change.
Why?
The Quebec government master plan
Let’s recall that municipalities must meet new obligations as part of
the Québec Residual Materials Management Policy 1998-2008 of the
ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs du
Québec. The overall objective of this policy is to recycle every year at
least 65% of all those residual materials that are recyclable. For this
reason, the Town of Saint-Lazare has to take necessary action, along
with the MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, residents and business owners, to
help it reach this aggressive target
on its territory.
360-litre recycling bins : the MRC’S first initiative in 2007
The distribution of the 360-litre bins by the MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges
in 2007 was part of this master plan According to numbers supplied by
the MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, in 2007, the quantity of recyclables
collected increased by 54% over 2006; the number of kilos recycled per
person increased by 44% over 2006 and in 2008, the MRC estimates 15,500
tons will have been recycled – an unprecedented record!
A majority of citizens already have considerably reduced the volume of
their wastes by rerouting more recyclables wastes away from dumps which
are more and more problematic and costly for society.
The MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges wants to continue to encourage this
tendency and does not foresee reducing pickup frequency. It is the MRC,
and not the Town, that manages recycling activities
for the 23 towns.
Garbage tax
The Town should reduce our garbage tax by half
For several years, and in spite of the considerable operation cost
increases seen in other sectors of activity and services offered to our
population, the Town has managed to maintain a low tax rate, thanks to
good financial practices. While the costs associated to garbage
collection has exploded in Montreal
(increasing from 10 % to 150 % in certain districts
www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Montreal/2008/12/05/003-ordures-couts-mtl.shtml?ref=rss),
the Town of Saint-Lazare, chose to slightly
reduce its garbage tax by reducing the pickup frequency by 28% during
the less problematic colder months and to focus on recycling activities.
Le ramassage des déchets est de plus en plus coûteux.
In a recent television report, Radio-Canada explained that "garbage
collection companies increased their costs because of last year’s
plummeting fuel prices, unexpected snow falls and the bad road conditions".
"Historic fuel barrel prices on the world’s market had a major impact on
the price of the garbage collection contracts when the time came to
renew. Last year’s important snow falls and multiple road construction
sites, which slowed down collection time, added additional pressure on
the price of these services."
The savings realized by the Town during the first year of this new
pickup frequency will allow countering increases in other sectors of
municipal activities and services to the population without impacting
your tax account.
What about foul smell?
The pickup frequency has been reduced during the colder months of the
year (January, February, March, April, mid-May, mid-October, November
and December). To avoid foul smell, it would be recommended you leave
your lid-covered trash bin outside, next to your 360-litre recycling bin.
Some people take the time to organize a practical outdoor space for
both. During these months, your garbage won’t smell to the point of
attracting
unwanted animals or vermin.
Animals and vermin
For those concerned with animals and vermin…
|
· |
Animals that have access to a regular and readily available food source
can be a problem regardless of the garbage pickup frequency. Your
garbage will always be a source of food if you do not adequately dispose
of your trash in a bin equipped with a tight cover;
|
|
· |
During summer months, while the weekly frequency remains unchanged,
deposit mothballs in your bin to cover-up foul smell;
|
|
· |
If you decide to keep your bins in your garage, take it out on the morning the garbage is picked-up;
|
|
· |
Wild animals live in urban areas: it is their home too! Animals and humans share this territory.
Raccoons, coyotes, foxes, raven and crows are our cotenants and we have to live with this reality whether we like it or not, they are part of our region’s charm. The majority of people, who live in Saint-Lazare, chose this area because of its reclusiveness, its dense forest cover and the nature that surrounds it. Animals are a part of this nature. The best way not to invite them
at your house is to use a bin with a lid.
|
All my waste is non-recyclable
We understand this frequency change will require a change in habit.
Despite the inconveniences and adjustments such a change will require we
are confident that our residents will, once again,
continue to reduce even more their environmental footprint.
Garbage
