Council agrees to consider trash service levels

By Meg Olson

Proponents of a lower minimum service level for garbage collection in Point Roberts scored a victory when the county agreed to revisit the ordinance that established mandatory garbage collection.

Speaking to Whatcom County Council at its February 25 meeting, Louise Cassidy said she was gratified that the issue would be on the March 24 agenda of the council’s public works and health committee. She encouraged council to request information from the hauler in advance of the discussion regarding how many households had been using the garbage collection service fully at the current minimum level of 26 annual pickups of a 32-gallon can.

Cassidy and other members of the group GarbageinPR have been pushing to have the minimum service level reduced to 12 annual pickups of a 20-gallon can in an effort to encourage waste reduction and meet the needs of a largely seasonal population.

“In the first six months of 2019, we only used 27 percent of the allotted tonnage the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) based their rates on,” she said. The WUTC approves rates for Cando Recycling and Disposal Service based on income and expenses.

Responding to earlier concerns from council members that lowering the minimum service level would jeopardize the financial viability of the hauler, Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association president Allison Calder said she had confirmation from the WUTC they would adjust rates in response to changes to the ordinance.

“It is not within the purview of this council to be concerned whether or not the provider is profitable,” she said. “The WUTC will ensure that at any service level [the company] will maintain the profit they are allowed to make.”