The Curbside Recycling Program the City of St. John's had planned to have in place by May has now been delayed to at least October, Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said today.
O'Keefe said the city has to go back to the marketplace to find an operator for the materials recovery facility.
The delay was caused by the fact that only one bid was received during the last tender call for an operator for the facility, but that bid was hundreds of thousands of dollar over what the city was willing to spend.
The mayor said the city tried to reach a deal with the union representing city workers to operate the facility in-house, but that effort failed. Thus, the operation of the facility has to be retendered which means a delay in the implementation of the program.
More details later and in Friday's print edition.
St. John's curbside recycling program delayed to at least October
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Published on
March 25, 2010
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Helen
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:39
and when october arrives we won't be able to start because of the onset of winter and the lack of cleared sidewalks. see how they strategize these things?
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- Sabrina from mount pearl
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:04
I think they're just delaying it, and they will keep delaying it. I know it needs to be shipped to NS, but it should be made so that there is a facility here which can process it, so that we cut out the shipping completly. It's ridiculous how far behind we are compared to the rest of the country, and it's about time this province does something about it.
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- Helen
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:02:04
Jon from St. John's, NL no, never have I put my garbage at the curb. I go straight to my business dumpster. You're wrong and you've missed the point.
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- Upset
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:54
This is sad, I think we are the only major city in Canadawith out a recycling program. It is very upsetting to see that this is taking so long. I agree with Helen
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- Chris
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:38
what a joke-why don't they just go to Halifax and see the sweet recycling program they have there. We would only get garbage collection once every two weeks and have a bag of paper per week and a bag of plastic and glass (yes glass--they had no issues collecting glass). They also picked up organics (food) in a green cart
Time for whoever is managing this for the City to have their knuckles tapped!
As for the unions--start a non profit company to run it, hire workers and keep the city unions clear of it otherwise you'll need two workers to pick up one blue bag. -
- Ed
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:59:30
Hate to break it to you folks, but collecting recyclables in NL causes MORE pollution than it prevents. Most of the stuff collected has to be shipped to NS (or further), after it has been picked up locally, delivered to the facility and sorted. It is a waste of money and actually does more harm to the environment. Until it can all be recycled locally (and re-consumed locally) there is no point in collecting it. The research is out there - check it for yourself.
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- Jon
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:19
Well no surprise there...was awaiting this announcement. I would bet that this won't be the only delay. We are only 10 years behind on recycling....if not more.
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- the goulie
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:36
The mayor said the city tried to reach a deal with the union representing city workers to operate the facility in-house, but that effort failed
Well it seems that council cannot tell its employees that they have new duties....talk about the tail wagging the dog!!!! Yesterday it was announced in media that garbage truck drivers get $27.00 per hour!!!! So I guess recycling work is too good for CUPE workers to engage in. Sounds like another caddilac system coming that the taxpayers will subsidize so that Sheliagh and company can tout what a great job they are doing. Recycling at the best of times will not break even. So if Dennis cannot get CUPE workers to do the job then form a company with nonunion workers and staff it. Im sure there are a lot of workers out there that would work for wages a lot less than what CUPE wants for work. It seems that this recycling plan will displacwe workers at such places as Evergreen recycling . These workers tend to be physically challenged so why not give them a chance to earn a decent living.I for one would applaud this move. But if we have to subsidize a private company to make money then this should not take place.
Poorly conceived plan once again Dennis. You built a state of the art facility with no one to work in it......my God man...did you not think that maybe this should have been done first ????Talk about putting the cart before the horse!!! -
- Steve
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:02
I agree with Helen. October is a terrible time to try to start this.
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- Kimberly
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:02
The Toronto program is GREAT and has been in place for years. There is no reason it can't start in October....also if this program does start I better not be paying any fee for containers at the store.
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- Dennis
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:55:49
Yes Chris, that sounds sweet garbage being picked up once every two weeks! All so we can feel like we're actualy doing something productive. Seperating our waste! Wow, what a smart idea!
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- Jon
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:02
helen: what does winter have to do with it. You still put your garbage out in the winter don't you? Only difference is that recyclables are put out in a different bag along with garbage.
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- Ben from NL
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:45:13
Gouldie from NL get your facts right before you mouth off in the telegram. The city garbage collectors in St. John's, (I don't know about Mt. Pearl or anywhere else) don't earn $27.00 an hour. They make between $18.00 and $20.00 an hour. They didn't try to negoiate a contract, they tried to impose a contract where workers in this new facility wouldn't be on par with current city workers. Sounds like a lot of sour grapes on your part. What you don't know, you make up. You should work for environmental services as a s---t disturber.
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- Dave
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:20
I'm from Newfoundland and went to University in Nova Scotia in the late 80's, where we had recycling. So St. John's is more than 10 years behind. More like 20... or more. Halifax has had full, mandatory composting for more than 15 years.
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- Telling it how Id
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:41:38
Personally, I think it was delayed because all that recyclable material would block the view of the precious harbour.
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- Helen
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:54:04
and when october arrives we won't be able to start because of the onset of winter and the lack of cleared sidewalks. see how they strategize these things?
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- Sabrina from mount pearl
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:06
I think they're just delaying it, and they will keep delaying it. I know it needs to be shipped to NS, but it should be made so that there is a facility here which can process it, so that we cut out the shipping completly. It's ridiculous how far behind we are compared to the rest of the country, and it's about time this province does something about it.
-
- Helen
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:49
Jon from St. John's, NL no, never have I put my garbage at the curb. I go straight to my business dumpster. You're wrong and you've missed the point.
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- Upset
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:34
This is sad, I think we are the only major city in Canadawith out a recycling program. It is very upsetting to see that this is taking so long. I agree with Helen
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- Chris
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:16
what a joke-why don't they just go to Halifax and see the sweet recycling program they have there. We would only get garbage collection once every two weeks and have a bag of paper per week and a bag of plastic and glass (yes glass--they had no issues collecting glass). They also picked up organics (food) in a green cart
Time for whoever is managing this for the City to have their knuckles tapped!
As for the unions--start a non profit company to run it, hire workers and keep the city unions clear of it otherwise you'll need two workers to pick up one blue bag. -
- Ed
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:47:01
Hate to break it to you folks, but collecting recyclables in NL causes MORE pollution than it prevents. Most of the stuff collected has to be shipped to NS (or further), after it has been picked up locally, delivered to the facility and sorted. It is a waste of money and actually does more harm to the environment. Until it can all be recycled locally (and re-consumed locally) there is no point in collecting it. The research is out there - check it for yourself.
-
- Jon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:18
Well no surprise there...was awaiting this announcement. I would bet that this won't be the only delay. We are only 10 years behind on recycling....if not more.
-
- the goulie
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:45:12
The mayor said the city tried to reach a deal with the union representing city workers to operate the facility in-house, but that effort failed
Well it seems that council cannot tell its employees that they have new duties....talk about the tail wagging the dog!!!! Yesterday it was announced in media that garbage truck drivers get $27.00 per hour!!!! So I guess recycling work is too good for CUPE workers to engage in. Sounds like another caddilac system coming that the taxpayers will subsidize so that Sheliagh and company can tout what a great job they are doing. Recycling at the best of times will not break even. So if Dennis cannot get CUPE workers to do the job then form a company with nonunion workers and staff it. Im sure there are a lot of workers out there that would work for wages a lot less than what CUPE wants for work. It seems that this recycling plan will displacwe workers at such places as Evergreen recycling . These workers tend to be physically challenged so why not give them a chance to earn a decent living.I for one would applaud this move. But if we have to subsidize a private company to make money then this should not take place.
Poorly conceived plan once again Dennis. You built a state of the art facility with no one to work in it......my God man...did you not think that maybe this should have been done first ????Talk about putting the cart before the horse!!! -
- Kimberly
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:44:22
The Toronto program is GREAT and has been in place for years. There is no reason it can't start in October....also if this program does start I better not be paying any fee for containers at the store.
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- Steve
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:44:21
I agree with Helen. October is a terrible time to try to start this.
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- Dennis
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:42:22
Yes Chris, that sounds sweet garbage being picked up once every two weeks! All so we can feel like we're actualy doing something productive. Seperating our waste! Wow, what a smart idea!
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- Jon
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:36:02
helen: what does winter have to do with it. You still put your garbage out in the winter don't you? Only difference is that recyclables are put out in a different bag along with garbage.
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- Ben from NL
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:24:35
Gouldie from NL get your facts right before you mouth off in the telegram. The city garbage collectors in St. John's, (I don't know about Mt. Pearl or anywhere else) don't earn $27.00 an hour. They make between $18.00 and $20.00 an hour. They didn't try to negoiate a contract, they tried to impose a contract where workers in this new facility wouldn't be on par with current city workers. Sounds like a lot of sour grapes on your part. What you don't know, you make up. You should work for environmental services as a s---t disturber.
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- Dave
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:23:10
I'm from Newfoundland and went to University in Nova Scotia in the late 80's, where we had recycling. So St. John's is more than 10 years behind. More like 20... or more. Halifax has had full, mandatory composting for more than 15 years.
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- Telling it how Id
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:18:17
Personally, I think it was delayed because all that recyclable material would block the view of the precious harbour.
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