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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 11, 2008 - 13 Region strained to pick up garbage on time LHIN public meetings By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Halton Region is working hard to rectify the delays local residents are experiencing in their garbage, Blue Box and Christmas tree collection. The municipality has been using external contractors -- above and beyond Halton Recycling Ltd. (HRL), which has the current waste collection contract with the Region -- to get caught up on the backlog, Halton Commissioner of Planning and Public Works Peter Crockett reported to a Region committee Wednesday. "There have been a number of issues that have caused delays in the collection program," he explained. For example, he said HRL has had some fleet breakdowns, but no spare trucks to fill in, along with staffing issues. This has resulted in trucks running as much as two or three days behind schedule, said Crockett. In response to the delays, the commissioner said a number of external contractors have been brought in and landfill hours have been routinely extended. "We want to be able to deliver service on the day we say we'll deliver service," he said. He emphasized that all additional costs are being incurred by HRL, meaning there's no impact on taxpayers. Regional Chair Gary Carr commended staff for the work that's been done so far to remedy the situation. While there have been previous collection issues with HRL, Crockett said they've become the most acute over the past month or so. Up-to-date collection information can be obtained by calling the Region at 905-825-6000 or visiting www.halton.ca/ppw/waste, where details are updated daily. A new waste collection contract, which will also implement the weekly pick-up of GreenCarts (like Blue Boxes but for kitchen scraps), is set to come into effect this April with Miller Waste Systems. Other changes include going to weekly Blue Box collection and biweekly garbage pick-up with a sixbag limit. Staff recommended the contract with Miller for several reasons, including Miller's number of trucks, customer service levels and its health and safety policies and procedures. The Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is seeking public input to get an idea of what practices are working, what practices are not working and what practices could be improved. A Mental Health and Addictions Detailed Planning and Action Team (DPA) is circulating a survey as well as planning community events in an effort to obtain community feedback from current and past service users, clients, family members, service providers, health and allied service users and community members who may have unsuccessfully tried to access services. The survey can be accessed via the Mississauga Halton LHIN website (www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca) and through the mental health service providers of the LHIN. The Mental Health and Addictions DPA has also planned two community events for the new year. One is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Halton Regional Police Station (Community Room), which is located at 490 Child's Dr. in Milton. The second community event is on Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Acorn Place (Meeting Room), which is located at 100 Acorn Ave. in Mississauga. The Regional More Blue and Green for a Better Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca Planet Oakville Urban Christmas Tree Collection From January 7 to 25, 2008, Christmas trees are collected on the same day as your Blue Box. Christmas trees are shredded into valuable mulch. · Please remove all tinsel, decorations, wires and plastic bags prior to collection. · Ensure trees do not become stuck or frozen in snow banks. · Please do not place Christmas trees at the curb before your scheduled collection day. · Put your Christmas tree at the curb by 7 a.m. the morning of your collection day, but no sooner than 5 p.m. the evening before. Halton Waste Management Calendar on its way to your mailbox Start looking in your mailbox for your 2008 Halton Waste Management Calendar! The Halton Waste Management Calendar has everything you need to know about waste collection in Halton Region. Information includes the Blue Box collection schedule, the Halton Waste Management Site, and important information about upcoming new waste diversion programs. This will be a shorter Calendar than usual. Starting on April 7, 2008, Halton Region will be providing you with more recycling opportunities. You'll receive a new Calendar in March outlining our new levels of waste management services. The Calendar is also available online at www.halton.ca/waste and can be requested from Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866, or TTY 905827-9833. JANUARY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Look for your 2008 Waste Management Calendar in your mailbox mid-January 2008. P-349-08 SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF SAMPLE COMPOSTABLE LINER BAG PACKAGES FOR THE LAUNCH OF HALTON REGION'S GREENCART PROGRAM Issue Date: Thursday, January 3, 2008 Closing Date: Thursday, January 17, 2008 Closing Time: 2:00 P.M. Oakville Time Bid documents can be viewed or obtained on and after the issue date from the Purchasing Division Halton Region, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, ON, L6M 3L1, telephone 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866), ext. 7011. The cost for bid documents is $15.75 (includes GST), payable to Halton Region, which is non-refundable. Bid documents can be shipped to bidders for an additional nonrefundable handling fee of $10.50 (includes GST). Halton Region relies on this advertisement to provide public notice of this business opportunity and is not obligated to notify any potential bidders in any other manner. For further information go to: www.halton.ca/shop. Winter Tips Put waste at the curb by 7 a.m. the morning of your collection day, but no sooner than 5 p.m. the evening before. Containers and bags should weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs). Items that are too heavy will not be collected. Do not put material out in cardboard boxes. 23 kg (50 lbs) Stack your Blue Boxes and place heavier items such as phone books and magazines on top of loose papers, or bundle and tie papers. Flatten and tie large cardboard boxes and place securely underneath or between your recycling boxes. Tie cardboard in bundles no larger than 30" x 30" x 8" (76cm x 76cm x 20cm). During the winter, ensure material is free of snow and ice and is visible to the collection crew. Do not place material on top of snow banks. 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 · Tel: 905-825-6000 · Toll Free: 1-866-442-5866 · TTY: 905-827-9833 · www.halton.ca 110108