SASKATOON – City administration has set out a plan on how to deal with lane garbage and recycling pickup during the upcoming spring melt after a number of collection trucks became stuck in snow-bound lanes last week.
In a report that will be received by the executive committee on Monday, officials are recommending to continue with lane pickup to the 18,000 homes currently receiving collection from back lanes.
The report states snow build-up in lanes is higher than normal and the recent snowfall and blowing snow has made many impassible. At one point on Wednesday, six trucks were stuck in lanes at the same time, and officials say it will only get worse once the melt starts.
There is also a warning that some homeowners may have to switch to curb-side pickup at times during the melt.
To mitigate the impact of the melt and ensure collection will continue in the back lanes, administration will take a number of steps.
Lanes will be pre-inspected daily using quarter- and half-ton trucks to determine if collection can proceed on that day.
If snow is required to be moved, it will be passed on to public works to be cleared based on their demands. Official are expecting more lanes will need to be cleared than crews will be able to tackle as snow cannot be pushed to the side due to lane widths and private property access.
Homeowners whose lanes are deemed impassable due to the potential for snowpack breakthrough or localized wet area later in the melt season will be notified by door-hangers their collection is being moved to the front street.
Officials say there are unknown increased operating costs associated with this approach, which will be based on how much snow removal work is necessary and how many door-hangers will be required.
The report says most residents would prefer to continue with back lane collections.
An option is also being given to the executive committee – have residents move their containers to front streets for pickup over a six-week to two-month period.
Officials say there will be some issues with front street collections, but moving to that option would have a significant cost saving and minimize lane damage.
That option would also allow public works to focus on problems on city streets rather than supporting lane clearing for garbage and recycling collection.
Loraas Recycle, who were consulted for the report, are strongly in favour of moving to temporary front street collection.
The executive committee meets on Monday at 1 p.m. at which time they’ll decided whether to receive the information to continue with lane collection during the spring melt.
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