Winnipeg starts to consider 2017 collection options

The government of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is beginning to explore options in terms of renewing or revamping its residential waste and recycling collection services when the current contracts expire in 2017.

An online article posted to the CBC website says the city’s council and relevant departments are preparing request for proposal (RFP) documents targeted to be complete in June 2016.

The CBC coverage also refers to dissatisfaction among some residents and municipal officials with the performance of the current collection companies, Emterra Group and Progressive Waste Solutions.

Emterra is the focus of several previous CBC articles criticizing some of the company’s crews for alleged sloppiness when collecting or for placing municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables in the same compactor truck.

EMterra reportedly collects in three of Winnipeg’s four collection districts with Progressive Waste handling the fourth. The contracts with both companies end in 2017, according to the CBC, and the current contracts “were the first ones issued by the city after it revamped its residential trash and recycling collection with roll-out bins in 2012.”

According to Winnipeg officials quoted in the article, the new contracts will not include the collection of organics, which will be collected separately. City officials are also considering putting within the RFP the option for residents who generate less MSW to be able to use a smaller bin.