City lays off 18 landfill staff as revenue falls

Operating hours to be cut next year

Eighteen city landfill staff were told last week they’ll be unemployed come January.

The ongoing economic downturn has triggered a significant decrease in the number of people dumping items at one of Calgary’s three landfills and resulted in an $11.65 million landfill revenue shortfall.

To combat the declining revenue, landfill operating hours will be slashed in 2017, a move approved by council on Monday when the 2017 budget was passed.

On Tuesday, Rick Valdarchi, director of waste and recycling services with the city, said 29 staff positions were eliminated last week due to the looming change in landfill hours needed to offset the revenue shortfall.

Three of those positions were already vacant, and eight more staff were moved, resulting in a total of 18 layoffs.

“I’ve been with the city 20 years,” said Valdarchi. “I can’t recall any other department having to go through something like this.”

The new landfill hours go into effect Jan. 9, 2017, and will see each city landfill open four days a week, down from the current six days a week, and seven during the summer.

The hours will be staggered so at least one landfill is open every day of the week.

In passing the budget Monday, council also endorsed ending the annual Christmas tree pick-up program next year to save money.

Instead of placing the Christmas tree outside near your garbage and recycling bin next year, Calgarians will have to bring their old trees to a depot, similar to the leaf and pumpkin drop-off program.