Quispamsis council rejects curbside recycling proposal

Curbside recycling could be years away in the greater Saint John area after a proposal for a Fundy region-wide program was soundly rejected by town council in Quispamsis Tuesday night.

The vote against was unanimous and Coun.Emil Olsen says it's just not the time.

"It would be an additional cost that we just feel is new expenditures that we don't want to put onto the residents at this time."

The decision may not be in step with what residents want. A recent survey by the local waste commission indicated 57 per cent of the people in Quispamsis support curbside pickup. Support was there even if it would cost them an additional $75 per year.

Rothesay Coun. Matt Alexander spent a year chairing a region-wide waste diversion committee that recommended curbside recycling pickup and wonders if the decision by Quispamsis sets an ominous precedent.

"It might be more expensive but we feel environmentally and socially it's the right way to go, he said.

Alexander now suspects the majority of communities in the region will also opt out. He speculatessince up to $6 million has to be spent to replace the current aging depot bins, greater Saint John will not be able to afford curbside for some years to come.

"This is a generational decision, he said. It's a 15 to 20 year time horizon that we're looking at so the decision that's going to be made by the regional services commission is going to be for the long term."

Four of five Canadian households currentlyhave curbside recycling pickup.

Residents at the blue-bin drop off in the KennebecasisValley on Tuesday expressed disappointment there wont be curbside pickup.

"Yes we should. It's more convenient for people, said Larry Percey. It's right at the street you can drop it off and get it picked up."

Arnold Donovan said it was about convenience, but also the environment. It probably is more tolerant of the environment as well because these drop-offs here get items that shouldn't be placed here, they're all over the place, he said.