Switch to small garbage tote, save on utility fees: DOS

District says Squamish residents can save on 2021 utility fees by making the switch to a small 35-gallon garbage tote size.

Residents will be able to submit an online request for a small garbage tote to be delivered later this spring by February 12.

There is a $35 fee to change the tote size.

The Solid Waste Utility Fee for a small garbage tote will remain at $200 for 2021, while the fees for medium and large garbage totes will increase to $345 (from $295) and $540 (from $460), respectively.

These increases are necessary in order to cover financing costs for the Landfill vertical expansion, and increasing costs for solid waste services and material diversion, district says.

A small 35-gallon tote will hold approximately 1 to 2 standard sized (75L) garbage bags.

Since the District is not raising utility rates in 2021 for water or sewer, those who convert to the small 35-gallon garbage tote will not see a utility rate increase in 2021.

The incentive aims to reward residents for reducing their amount of household waste disposed by maintaining last year’s fee for the small tote size.

“We have accelerated our waste reduction targets to reach our goal of zero waste by 2040, and achieving this goal will require all of our residents to rethink, reuse, reduce and recycle,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott.

“We know there are many members of our community who are putting the extra effort into diverting household waste from the landfill and the goal of this incentive is to encourage more residents to do the same. We all have an important role to play in diverting waste from the Landfill and when we do, we will help to extend its life span and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”