Roadside garbage and recycling collection can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase recycling diversion, ease pressure on the local landfill, improve convenience and reduce costs for homeowners.

The cost of a garbage and recycling collection service will depend on the specifics of what is offered. Influencing factors include the distances between and number of homes in the neighbourhood, pickup frequency and materials collected. In other rural areas on Vancouver Island, the service price ranges between $150-$250/year when homes are bundled together and the service contracted by a local government. The results of this survey will inform what service level is proposed for areas that express interest. Cost estimate will be refined and shared with residents before any public approval process.

This kind of bundled service ranges between $150-$250/year in other rural areas on Vancouver Island. For comparison two drop-offs per month to the landfill would cost an estimated $260 per year for a homeowner or $487-$560 per year for weekly collection service by a private hauler (not including recycling). Costs are highly variable depending on personal preferences and these are estimates only.

The survey is now closed and will be important to help CVRD staff gauge interest in a roadside garbage/recycling service by neighbourhood. For those communities that are interested and meet technical requirements, the CVRD will proceed to develop a plan that it would bring back for consultation and a public approval process.