SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Confusion over how the city's new curbside garbage collection program is supposed to work in Range Lake indicates the city still has a ways to go in educating people on how the compost system works.

At least 150 Range Lake residents did not have their garbage picked up after they put out their black bins instead of the green compost bins during the first week of the new curbside composting program. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo

At least 150 residents in the subdivision did not have their garbage picked up Monday after leaving the wrong coloured bins on the curb. Earlier this year Range Lake was selected to be the test subject for the first phase of the city's five-year, $2.7-million curbside composting program. As a result, each home was given a 240-litre black garbage bin, as well as a smaller 120-litre green organic waste bin, with organic waste and garbage to be collected in alternating weeks.

This was supposed to be the first week that the green bins were to be picked up, however, approximately 150 people put out their black bins full of garbage instead of the green compost bins, while another 70 residents put out both.

Yellowknifer drove around and checked more than 20 black garbage bins on Magrum Crescent, Borden Drive and Herriman Road which were still out on the curb Monday afternoon; all but one was filled with garbage while the half-dozen green bins checked were all empty.

According to Chris Greencorn, director of public works and engineering, Kavanaugh Brothers Waste Removal did not collect the garbage left in the black bins because the company's trucks do not have the capability to sort rubbish from compost.

"Monday was compost pickup in Range Lake, so the truck was picking up compost," Greencorn stated in an e-mail. "They couldn't change operations at each stop so they continued with compost collection."

Greencorn stated that putting another truck on the route to pick up garbage would have ended up costing the city more money as it would have been an additional service.

"Any additional garbage service the city puts in place is an additional cost to the collection contract, we don't want to increase any costs," Greencorn wrote.

"The city is making every effort to reduce the costs of service to our residents, so we believe this to be a small hiccup and are confident that each week will be even more successful."

Range Lake resident John Lavoie said he wasn't sure whether or not he was supposed to put his green bin out this week so he just looked next door to see what his neighbour did, who did have a green bin at the curb.

"I just looked down the street and made sure I wasn't a fool," he said.

Laura Holmes, who also lives in Range Lake, doesn't consider herself a "recycling person" but credited the city for handing out fridge magnets outlining the alternating schedule for compost and garbage pickup.

"I'll give them half a point for that," she said. "I wouldn't have remembered if it hadn't been for that."

Holmes said she gave up trying to sort her recyclables over the summer because she got frustrated with how time-consuming it is. Nonetheless, she said she is trying to comply with the city's new compost system.

"I just wish they had given us a choice," she said.

Although it is still early on, Lavoie said he has already diverted a significant amount of his waste to the green bins.

"I never knew there was so much compost coming in," he said. "So far I'm happy

with it."

John Oldfield, president of Kavanaugh Brothers Waste Removal, said anyone who is unsure about their garbage collection schedule should review the material that was delivered with the bins or check the city's website.

"Make sure they have it out next week and we will be sure to empty them," he said.

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