garbage cart idea passed

incognito wrote:

LivingDead wrote:

incognito wrote:I'd prefer to see a user-pay system in place so that those of us who prefer to live low-impact lifestyles don't have to support the wastrels.

That would go over well. I can hear the arguments now.

What about the poor people? How will they afford user-pay for garbage pickup? The city will start looking like a disaster zone etc...

No doubt, that tired song and dance would get lots of airplay. But the arguments have no merit.

And guess what? we have a user-pay system in place. I'm a user and I pay, its called property taxes.

I call the current system socialized trash pickup. Why is the city involved in a service which could be negotiated directly between residents and private contractors?

Please enlighten me, how would the arguments of the poor have no merit?

Imagine if we had to negotiate with private contracters for Garbage collection, Water, Sewer, Road repairs, recycling pickup etc... I'd rather pay the city to look after it all for me. A one stop shop.

LivingDead wrote:

incognito wrote:

LivingDead wrote:

incognito wrote:I'd prefer to see a user-pay system in place so that those of us who prefer to live low-impact lifestyles don't have to support the wastrels.

That would go over well. I can hear the arguments now.

What about the poor people? How will they afford user-pay for garbage pickup? The city will start looking like a disaster zone etc...

No doubt, that tired song and dance would get lots of airplay. But the arguments have no merit.

And guess what? we have a user-pay system in place. I'm a user and I pay, its called property taxes.

I call the current system socialized trash pickup. Why is the city involved in a service which could be negotiated directly between residents and private contractors?

Please enlighten me, how would the arguments of the poor have no merit?

Imagine if we had to negotiate with private contracters for Garbage collection, Water, Sewer, Road repairs, recycling pickup etc... I'd rather pay the city to look after it all for me. A one stop shop.

COMMIE!

Garbage pick-up is an essential service that the city should be providing, just like water and sewer.

Those are core responsibilities imho.

We can do without some of the things the city is into, but not garbage.

LivingDead wrote:

incognito wrote:

LivingDead wrote:

incognito wrote:I'd prefer to see a user-pay system in place so that those of us who prefer to live low-impact lifestyles don't have to support the wastrels.

That would go over well. I can hear the arguments now.

What about the poor people? How will they afford user-pay for garbage pickup? The city will start looking like a disaster zone etc...

No doubt, that tired song and dance would get lots of airplay. But the arguments have no merit.

And guess what? we have a user-pay system in place. I'm a user and I pay, its called property taxes.

I call the current system socialized trash pickup. Why is the city involved in a service which could be negotiated directly between residents and private contractors?

Please enlighten me, how would the arguments of the poor have no merit?

It's a specious argument. 

Which poor people are we referring to?

The homeless? For them trash collection isn't even on the radar.

Apartment dwellers? Their garbage pickup is already included in the rent.

That leaves single-family homes. Well, home ownership entails certain duties and obligations. I see no reason why waste removal can't be incorporated into the personal budget like every other service.

Imagine if we had to negotiate with private contracters for Garbage collection, Water, Sewer, Road repairs, recycling pickup etc... I'd rather pay the city to look after it all for me. A one stop shop.

Why is that so difficult to fathom? You already contract for all your other needs. 

Imagine what would happen if the city were in the shoe business. We'd all receive size 10's in just one fugly colour.

And chances are the government would grant itself a footwear monopoly, outlawing private competitors from providing more durable, fashionable, formfitting attire - because it simply wouldn't be fair if people with sufficient means were allowed to jump the queue for superior alternatives while the marginalized 'poor folk' are forced to endure the perpetual discomfort of their standard issue boots.

I prefer personal choice.

Having the city look after everything means putting up with generic one-size-fits-all service that costs a fortune and satisfies no one.

The fact we're even having this discussion proves the point.

JTF wrote:Garbage pick-up is an essential service that the city should be providing, just like water and sewer.

Those are core responsibilities imho.

We can do without some of the things the city is into, but not garbage.

Sewer and water service require heavy investments in infrastructure - trash collection doesn't.

In any case, both of those services are charged on a pay-per-use basis.

trash collections requires a substanially co-ordinated effort and should only be done by one person in an area for the simple reason of knowing who to blame when the sh1t starts to fly.

For example lets say that myself and my two neighbours each had a different service my guys are jerks and becuase I never tipped them they dumped half my garbage on the street.

Who has to clean it up? Since garbage days remain the same and unless someone had video proof or there was some mail or something else with me name in it, how can anyone prove it was my guys or my garbage?

I would rather buy all my stuff from one store, than have to spend time driving to a bunch of stores to buy my stuff. I liken that to the city. If I wanted to take care of everything on my own I would live out side of the city. I like the services the city provides me. If I did not, or thought the price for those services were too high I'd move somewhere cheaper.

And...consider the other side of it.

Do you think most people outside the city actually have private pickup contracts? or haul their junk to the dump?

Not likely.

Developments have a contract, and it's part of your association fees or built into the contract to live in the development.

If you're not in one...odds are high that you just have a big trash pile out back, that you burn once a month...cause it's free.

Or, if you actually own land....you might have some trees/woods on the land, and you haul all your garbage in there and dump it.

At least by having city pickup...you help keep the city from becoming overburdened with trash & debris.

Well I had a chance to speak with the head of Garbage collections for the City Of Winnipeg. He has put my mind at ease.

The 240l bin will be accompanied by a second 240l blue bin for recycling at a later date. The city also plans on stepping up their composting strategy, by giving away composters like they did a few years ago to help reduce grass cuttings and leaves from being tossed into trash.

After about 20 min or talking with the guy, I cant remember his name, I thought "maybe we are headed in the right direction here."

He also said that in special situations (ie. Large Families) that the city would send out someone to help with excess garbage above the 240l/week level.

So now that I have been properly informed, I'm all for the automated bin system.

Sucker.

The part I wished to show is cut-off on the right....it's a community bin....

step two of the program.

"The 240l bin will be accompanied by a second 240l blue bin for recycling at a later date."

Very interesting.. considering that COUNCIL is still waiting to DECIDE what to do with recycling after holding public meetings.. nice to see that the beurocrats are making their own decisions

JTF, our bins will be 240L wheeled type. not those communal bins like in parts of the north end