The Regional District of Nanaimo’s manager of solid waste indicated the district plans to improve communication systems whenever curbside collection is interrupted due to adverse weather conditions.
Larry Gardner, at the solid waste management select committee meeting on Jan. 18, acknowledged the inability to clearly disseminate updates to collection schedules was one of the main reasons for the frustration experienced by residents during the heavy snowstorm that recently hit the region. It disrupted garbage collection for close to two weeks.
“We definitely frustrated a number of our residents, which we definitely don’t like to do,” Gardner told the committee.
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During the snowfall, service was cancelled as garbage truck operators found the roads unsafe, as some areas were not cleared and also due to black ice. Residents were left with garbage piling up for close to two weeks and wondering when the services would resume.
Gardner said they will focus on enhancing services, particularly their method of communication, key when relaying any changes.
“We need to get down to a level where we can tailor communications to if not to the household levels, in the street or area level,” said Gardner. “Doing mass communications to large areas just leads to confusion. So, we’ve got some ideas on how we can achieve that. We will improve on it.”