CITY workers are learning how to use one of two new automated garbage trucks recently purchased as the city continues to prepare to distribute nearly 8,000 garbage and recycling containers as part of a new collection system starting Jan. 4, 2016.
The city will be delivering the new wheeled garbage and recycling containers over the coming month, replacing ones now used by residents.
The new containers go hand in hand with new trucks, the second of which is expected the middle of this month, as the cans are constructed to be lifted up, emptied and then placed back on the ground by a mechanical arm on the trucks.
It means city workers will no longer have to empty cans manually or lift recycling bags.
There will be a black container and blue container delivered, one for garbage and another for recycling.
At some point in the near future, the city will also be purchasing similar bins meant solely for compostable material.
No longer will there be a 50-pound limit on garbage loads, as the city will take any amount of waste as long as it can fit in the new containers.
Recycling over and above what can fit into a container will be allowed but is required to be placed in clear plastic bags.
Collection will still alternate on the same biweekly schedule used currently.
The new carts are coded to be associated with a particular address, so when someone moves out, they leave the carts at their old address.
According to public works director Rob Schibli, the city is looking to order a smaller size of garbage cart for those who might have difficulty moving the new ones, but he said the leverage is good on them and he does not anticipate a problem.
Taxpayers are covering the cost of the containers by an extra fee on utility bills.
Each of the 3,650 containers for waste and 3,650 for recycling can hold 240 litres and cost $65 each for a total of $490,000. With other costs tacked on, the total bill is $525,000 to be divided among Terrace taxpayers.
The trucks were paid for by a city account set up for vehicle replacement.