Garbage Pick Up In Newmarket

Let's talk trash, Newmarket.

Our garbage contract with Green For Life is expiring during this term of Council.  A ten year garbage pick up contract was signed in 2007, awarded to Turtle Island, and the company was later sold becoming Green For Life in 2012.  Green For Life is no mom and pop operation.  It also provides garbage pick up in Toronto, Hamilton and Durham Region. 

In Newmarket, we share garbage services with the Northern York Region municipalities of Georgina, East Gwillimbury, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, and King (also known as the N6 municipalities). 

But even though the garbage pick up contract is the same, the level of service provided to residents of each municipality differs greatly. 

If you need to discard an old barbeque, appliance, or an old mattress, you pay for the pick up in Newmarket but neighbouring communities will pick up the same items at no additional cost. 

Whereas other municipalities offer weeks throughout the year for additional trash bags to be picked up without having to purchase tags, Newmarket doesn't offer any tag free weeks.  The Town of Newmarket always requires residents to purchase tags for additional bags.

Is this causing problems? 

Based on the fact that some council members host special garbage drop off events that gather tons of materials each year, I think even these council members have come to recognize that Newmarket's trash pick up rules are too restrictive.  There doesn't seem to be similar "trash events" in our neighbouring towns which demonstrates that the tons of waste collected in Newmarket is a symptom of a home grown problem. 

We already pay among the highest property tax rates in York Region.  Shouldn't we insist that our services be on par with those municipalities with lower tax rates?  Especially considering that the one garbage contract with Green for Life is shared with all the N6 communities?