A surge of complaints on social media and to city hall about overflowing public trash bins in Langford has prompted council to take a closer look at garbage.
“The state of garbage in Langford has gotten to be pretty gross in some of the higher traffic areas,” said Coun. Colby Harder during a council meeting last month.
Garbage collection in Langford has always been handled by private contractors, who are paid by homeowners and businesses.
However, garbage service is not mandatory in Langford, leading some to believe that some people are just dumping garbage in public bins rather than paying another bill.
“I suspect that in addition to a growing and densifying population, the non-compulsory nature of waste collection in our city doesn’t do much to discourage people from illegally dumping large household items on the roadside, or from making the trip to throw their household trash in public bins,” said Harder. Councillors supported a motion by Harder and Coun. Keith Yacucha to have staff prepare a report on its waste management practices in the short and long term, including the possibility of starting a municipally operated waste collection service.