A city-run garbage collection service could be Langford’s answer to a growing mess: overflowing public trash cans.
The unsightly issue has become an increasing concern for residents, who have taken to social media to share photos and direct complaints to city staff.
“Quite frankly, understandably so, because the state of garbage in Langford’s gotten to be pretty gross in some of the higher traffic areas,” said Coun. Colby Harder at the July 21 council meeting.
In response, council has directed staff to explore both short- and long-term waste management solutions – including the possibility of creating a municipal domestic waste collection service.
Currently, garbage collection in Langford is handled by private contractors and is not mandatory, which Harder said often surprises newcomers arriving from municipalities where city-run waste services are the norm.
“And I suspect that in addition to a growing and densifying population, the non-compulsory nature of waste collection in our city doesn't do much to discourage people from illegally dumping large household items on the roadside, or from making the trip to throw their household trash in public bins,” she said.
Alongside the exploration of a new municipal service, staff will also review options for increasing the frequency of pickups at public receptacles.
Currently, high-traffic areas are serviced daily during peak seasons, while more remote parts of the city and off-season schedules may see pickup as infrequently as once a week.
According to Coun. Keith Yacucha, who proposed the motion with Harder, the contractor hired by the city to manage the public trash can collections, has seen a “significant increase in the demand being placed on them.”
The staff report will also explore redesigning bins, improving signage and increasing bylaw enforcement to help deter illegal dumping.
While any move toward a city-run collection service would take “a number of years” to implement, the idea is already drawing some pushback from residents concerned about the cost.
“We have had enough tax increases … you just need to stop thinking that our bank account is open and raising taxes for people,” said Wendy Hobbs.
Instead of a complete overhaul of the current system, Mike Wignall suggested the city simply increase the frequency of public trash can collections.
He also questioned if locals are truly skirting private collection fees by dumping in public bins.
“If you’re inferring that private citizens of Langford are saving on waste collection costs by dumping their trash in municipal garbage facilities, I think you’re scapegoating at best, and gaslighting at worst,” he said.
Offering some reassurance that the city is not moving full steam ahead with a new service, Harder explained the report instead demonstrates a willingness by the city to examine and understand the problems the community faces.
"The motion doesn't immediately lock us into spending more money or establishing new functions for the city," she said.
But not all councillors were on board with the idea of a staff report.
Both Couns. Mary Wagner and Kimberley Guriy expressed concern about the scope of the work and whether it’s feasible with just one year left in their term.
“I would personally hate to dangle that type of potential service in front of the public if I couldn’t deliver on it,” said Guiry.
“I just wish this had come forward earlier, so that we had more runway to be effective with the potential solutions,” she added later.
In response, staff confirmed they had the capacity to prepare a report.
Council voted to proceed, with only Guiry and Wagner opposed. There was no timeline given for when the report was expected to return to council.
