New trash-collection crews still figuring out their routes

WATERLOO REGION — “New drivers, new routes” are slowing down garbage collection in Waterloo Region.

Some homes didn’t have their waste picked up last week until late in the evening or the next day.

As part of the collection changes that took effect March 6 with two different waste management companies contracted by the region, new crews are out on the streets.

“These are new routes for them,” said Cari Rastas Howard, the region’s waste management program manager. “And they have to learn a new route every single day.”

The companies have extra trucks available to be dispatched to streets that were missed when a resident calls the region (519-575-4400) to report the issue.

“There’s a couple extra trucks that can go back,” Rastas Howard said.

She said quite a few people did call the region’s call centre about garbage not being picked up, mostly those who came home from work and garbage was still sitting at the curb.

However, trucks may be rolling down streets picking up garbage at different times than before.

“Things have changed now with new routes,” Rastas Howard said.

That’s also why it’s important for people to get their waste out by 7 a.m., in case the trucks come early.

But they will also be out late for the first few weeks as crews become familiar with the new routes.

“The trucks are out there into the evening,” Rastas Howard said.

She said she understands the frustration for residents who put in extra effort to comply with the collection changes, and then not have the garbage picked up as scheduled.

“We’re asking people to please be patient.”

This is the second week of new waste collection rules that standardize pickup across the region.

Garbage is now picked up alternate weeks, while recycling and green bins will be picked up at the curb every week. Kitchener and the townships had garbage collected last week, and this week it’s Waterloo and Cambridge.

Waste is being picked up in new trucks — two truck types for the cities and two truck types for the townships. The configuration was decided by the two waste management companies awarded the collection contracts, with one serving the rural areas and the other urban areas.

With the heavy snow forecast for overnight Monday and into Tuesday, residents are asked to make sure bins aren’t covered with snow. People are encouraged to put their waste out in the morning or free it from the white stuff before crews come along.

“The guys can only collect what they can see,” Rastas Howard said.