RDN to Transition to Automated Curbside Collection

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is pleased to announce that it will be transitioning from the current manual curbside collection service to a new automated curbside collection service for all single-family dwelling units within the Region that are not serviced by the City of Nanaimo. This change is set to occur in October 2020.

The current curbside collection contract with Waste Connections of Canada (Waste Connections) expires September 30, 2020. As such, the RDN conducted a Request for Proposal to seek a replacement contractor. Through a comprehensive review of the responses, the Board awarded the service contract, which includes automated collection, to Waste Connections for a total estimated contract value of $3.2 million for the first year.

The automated curbside collection service will use specially-designed wheeled carts and automated collection trucks with mechanical arms. Truck drivers will operate the arms from within the cab of the truck to grab, lift and empty the materials in the carts.

We are excited to announce this new automated collection service which will provide each RDN household with convenient, easy to roll carts for recyclables, food waste and garbage.” said RDN chair Ian Thorpe. The new automated service will address current waste generation, as well as the RDN’s Solid Waste Management Plan’s new waste diversion target of 90% over the next 10 years.

Residents will have a choice of cart sizes that best suit their household’s disposal needs. Cart selections can be made until December 31, 2019, at www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/curbsidecollection or via the postage paid response form that was sent out in the Fall 2019 RDN Solid Waste newsletter.

Carts will be on display for residents at various locations throughout the Region from September 23 to November 29, 2019. Please visit www.getinvolved.rdn.ca/curbsidecollection for more information and details on the upcoming curbside collection service change.

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