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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - One Yellowknife business owner is fuming after being passed over for the contract to supply the city's new double-bin joint recycling and garbage containers.

Sandra Elliott, co-owner of Fibreglass North, said her company wasn't even approached to submit a quote.

An example of the type of dual bins the city is set to purchase at a total of about $2,000 a pop. - photo courtesy of Jeff Humble

Instead, the city has sought to purchase receptacles from businesses outside of Yellowknife - and proposed to purchase the $1,750 bins through Whitehorse-based Play Systems North.

"At least check with the suppliers that are local first. We've been here since 1992," said Elliott, adding that her business is a member of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, and if the city is "not aware, they must be asleep."

Her company has also donated the fibreglass ravens now mounted atop lampposts around the city.

"We're good enough to donate those ravens on the city streets. Where did they think they came from? This company made them," she said.

Fibreglass North has recently laid two people off and is short of work, she said.

"Shop local. It's our tax dollars they're spending and they're sending the work out."

Jeff Humble, director of planning and lands, did not return phone calls yesterday to comment on Eliot's concerns.

City council approved the allocation of $12,000 for the purchase of six double-bin joint garbage and recycling containers during Monday night's council meeting, despite earlier objections from some councillors over the cost.

"The topic has been close to the hearts of the downtown enhancement committee for quite a while," said city councillor David McCann, who is a member of committee.

"The intent is to make the downtown a cleaner and more pleasant location," he added.

The bins, which will be placed downtown next year on behalf of the downtown enhancement committee, cost about $1,750 each, plus about $200 each for the removal of old garbage cans and the installation of the new bins.

The bins feature lids on the recycling side which prevent anyone from taking the cans and bottles out and are also mounted to the sidewalk to prevent them from being moved or vandalized.

While council supported the $12,000 bin initiative - which, if successful, could prompt future purchases - it did not go through without some calls for amendments.

The first, which was defeated, asked for city administration to look at creating and installing new bins made from local recycled materials as a pilot program - like barrels rescued from the dump - in addition to the six $2,000-bins experiment.

Coun. David Wind, who had previously passed around pictures of oil drums converted into garbage bins in Dieppe, N.B., agreed that alternatives should be considered.

Wind added there is definitely a need for more litter containers throughout the city, but if they were all to be installed at $1,700 each, the move would likely be blocked.

McCann, however, reminded council the relatively high cost is primarily city council's responsibility.

"Council brought forward the idea we should be recycling," he said, adding it's the dual recycling garbage aspect to the bins that pushes costs up. The cost "is something council brought on in large measure," he added.

McCann said he did not support the amendment because he didn't want to "dilute the forward thrusts" of the six-bin experiment.

In the end, an amendment was added to direct council to look at alternative designs for future use that might use local materials - but not yet install them - in addition to looking at the operational aspects of litter and recycling management.

Likely locations for the new bins include Franklin Avenue, 50 Street and city hall, said Jeff Humble, director of planning and lands.

Other streets downtown are also under consideration, he added. The all-important question to ask, joked Mayor Gord Van Tighem is "will they be raven-proof?"