Garbage grievances continue to pile up
Job 1 for Emterra is improved communications, Regional politicians say
Niagara’s politicians have been getting an earful from residents about garbage collection delays over the holidays.
Tuesday at Niagara Region’s public works committee meeting, the shoe was on the other foot, and it was the politicians expressing their frustration to Graham Wathan, a vice-president with Emterra Environmental, the company contracted to collect Niagara’s waste and recycling. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said Emterra must improve its communications strategy because its recent efforts were “below acceptable.”
The delays hit almost every area of Niagara during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and are still being sorted out.
“We need to get this right going forward,” he said. “We need some specific communications so when you are late, or your truck breaks down, or someone calls in sick, and you change the date, you can tell people when their stuff is going to be picked up.
“That’s all they care about. They don’t want excuses. They want answers. I spent the holidays putting out fires over this stuff … We need you guys to step up your game.”
We need some specific communications so when you are late, or your truck breaks down, or someone calls in sick, and you change the date, you can tell people when their stuff is going to be picked up.” Jim Diodati, Niagara Falls mayor
Wathan explained a shortage of trucks and staff, as well as bonechilling temperatures, caused the delays, which will end Friday. Christmas tree collection will finish on the weekend.
Wathan blamed some of the problems on the minimum wage, which has increased to $14 an hour.
“As we all know, Bill 148 came in recently and, unfortunately, a lot of people who were throwing garbage for us were close to that threshold,” Wathan said. “When the weather started to hit, they decided to look for indoor work. It’s the same money and a lot warmer — and you don’t have to hang onto a truck speeding down the road at 30 km/h.”
He said the company had begun talks with the union to improve wages “by a couple of dollars an hour.”
Wathan also said the company ended up short of trucks for two reasons. The first is an ongoing effort to refurbish the fleet so the trucks will last through the end the contract with the municipality, which
I have grave concerns about the promises you are making. We heard this in the fall when the leaf collection started to get behind, and here we are again in the same situation. I can tell you there is nothing more personal to the constituents in our communities than respect for the garbage being picked up on time. ” Regional Chair Alan Caslin
was recently extended to 2021. The second was breakdowns caused by the frigid winter weather.
Wathan said the company is addressing those problems by adding more trucks to the fleet above the number for which the contract calls.
Regional Chair Alan Caslin wasn’t satisfied the company had done enough.
“I have grave concerns about the promises you are making,” he said. “We heard this in the fall when the leaf collection started to get behind, and here we are again in the same situation.
“I can tell you there is nothing more personal to the constituents in our communities than respect for the garbage being picked up on time.
“Three years into this term, the issue on which I have had the most complaints is this one, and specifically Emterra. I don’t think what your plans are are sufficient.”
He asked regional staff for a report on the Region’s options.
“We can look at other ways to mitigate our problem ourselves,” he said. “It may be with another contractor or support of a different kind, perhaps with our own resources.”
Wathan said Emterra did its best. It had workers on the streets for 13 hours a day and called in supervisors to work at all hours. He added the company ownership was making sure he had the resources to address the problem.
“I share your frustration,” he said.
“I don’t think you do,” Caslin replied. “I have been getting complaints from our staff that the information we have been getting from your company is either untruthful or inaccurate … Emterra should be communicating why they aren’t meeting the goals they set for themselves. If this is a partnership, one of us isn’t pulling their weight.” bsawchuk@postmedia.com