The City of Duncan’s new $460,000 fully-automated garbage truck has been delivered.
The city ordered the truck about 18 months ago to replace its aging semi-automated truck that is at the end of its life.
Brian Murphy, Duncan’s director of public works and engineering, said fully-automated garbage collection will begin for city residents soon after the new automated-collection carts are delivered, which is expected sometime in the spring of 2025.
He said the city will publish an exact start date once it is known when the carts will be delivered.
The new carts, which will be 100 and 120 litres for the garbage containers compared to the current 77-litre ones, will be provided by the city.
More information on the new fully automated-waste collection system will be posted on the city’s website on Feb. 4.
The current rate for semi-automated collection in the city is $146.48 annually per household, but with a fully automated system, the annual rate per household had been estimated in 2023 to be in the range of $199 to $210.
Duncan’s council decided to switch to a fully automated collection system in 2022 after receiving favourable feedback from a majority of respondents on a survey that was held on the issue.
The current semi-automated pick up program requires a lot of lifting by the operators and the entire process is time consuming, repetitive, ergonomically difficult, and physically demanding with a high risk for injuries.
With a fully automated program, the operator doesn’t need to leave the cab and has hardly any direct contact with the carts or their contents, so there is far less opportunity for injuries and the associated lost time and costs.
Another key factor that is driving the increasing switch to automated collection in other jurisdictions is the inclusion of yard waste in the collection stream.
At the council meeting on Jan. 27, Coun. Garry Bruce asked staff if the city’s old garbage truck could be used if the new one breaks down.
CAO Peter de Verteuil said it would be unlikely staff would be able to use the old truck because the size and weight of the new carts will be different and wouldn’t work well with the fully automated truck.
He said, in the the case of a breakdown with the new truck, the city would likely partner with North Cowichan or another municipality to use one of their trucks on an interim basis.
“Fortunately, with a brand new truck, it’s unlikely in the immediate term to have that occur but, certainly, as the truck ages, those types of arrangements are likely necessary towards the tail end of a vehicle’s service life,” de Verteuil said.
