The city will consider reducing the maximum number of garbage bags collected bi-weekly from three to two, following a presentation from a Grade 8 Abbotsford student.
Lane Spyksma, a student at Abbotsford Christian middle school, made the proposal to council last Monday. Spyksma said this would take waste out of landfills, as well as reduce the cost to the city for shipping waste, while the funds could be used for other services.
Spyksma said he used to live in Nanaimo, which has stricter rules than Abbotsford. There, only one can of garbage is allowed each week, and Spyksma said it encourages people to recycle and consider the environment.
Barry Azevedo, the city’s solid waste engineering manager, said the number of bags was dropped from four to three in January 2013, when the new compost system was launched. He said it was part of the plan to drop the number to two, but staff wanted residents to get used to the new program first.
Coun. Patricia Ross thanked Spyksma for his presentation, saying she supported the idea. Staff will prepare a report for council.