Automated garbage cart collection
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
City Council approved the Award of Contract for Residential Garbage Collection in Northwest Area of Winnipeg 
report on October 7, 2009. The information on this page is an overview of the automated garbage cart collection program.
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Background
- What area of the city has automated garbage collection?
- How does automated collection work?
- Will other areas of the city have automated garbage collection?
- Do you also plan to change the AutoBin collection system to this type of automated cart collection?
- Do other Canadian cities have automated garbage collection?
- What are the benefits of automated garbage cart collection?
About the carts
- What are the garbage carts like?
- What happens to the cart if I move?
- Who is responsible for maintaining the cart?
- Where do I store my cart?
- What happens if my cart is damaged, lost or stolen?
- What can I do with my old garbage container?
Carts on collection day
- Why do the arrows on the cart lid have to face the road?
- Why do I need to allow space on all sides of the cart?
- Can I place materials beside the cart if I don’t have enough room inside?
- Do I have to place my cart out every collection day?
- What if I can’t get my cart to the to the curb or lane due to health limitations?
- What do I do if I have difficulty placing my cart on collection day (e.g., due to trees, vehicles, telephone poles)?
Cart security
- How do you know which cart belongs to each address?
- Can I purchase and use a cart from a home improvement store?
- Can I chain my cart to my fence in between collection days so that my cart doesn’t go missing?
Yard waste collection
Background
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- The area north of the Assiniboine River and west of the Red River (the red area on this map).
- Not the areas already serviced by AutoBins.
How does automated collection work?
From inside the vehicle, the driver activates a mechanical arm on the garbage truck to pick up, empty and return the cart to its location.
Will other areas of the city have automated garbage collection?
Now that City Council has approved automated garbage collection for the northwest area of the city, the other areas of the city may be converted to automated collection as each of the remaining manual collection contracts expire. By February 2013, the entire city may have automated garbage collection.
Do you also plan to change the AutoBin collection system to this type of automated cart collection?
Not at this time. If we recommend any changes in the future, we will prepare a report for City Council to consider.
Do other Canadian cities have automated garbage collection?
Yes, many other cities currently use carts:
- Brandon, MB
- Saskatoon, SK
- Regina, SK
- Moosejaw, SK
- Medicine Hat, AB
- Central Okanagan, BC
- Kelowna, BC
- Vancouver, BC
- Toronto, ON
What are the benefits of automated garbage cart collection?
- Cost savings in the long term because automated collection is more efficient than manual collection.
- Fewer litter, odour and pest problems because the carts have lids.
- Provides a safer work environment for garbage collectors. They will not suffer from the typical injuries that go with repeatedly lifting heavy objects into a truck (e.g., leg, back and shoulder injuries). Nor will they risk injury from sharp objects in garbage bags (e.g., hypodermic needles, broken glass, nails).
About the carts
What are the garbage carts like?
The carts:
- hold about 240 litres, equal to 3 regular size garbage containers,
- are approx 0.59 metres (24 inches) wide, 0.74 metres (29 and a half inches) deep and 1.06 metres (42 inches) tall,
- are grey in colour,
- have large wheels that make them easy to roll, even over curbs, gravel and snow,
- are made of a durable plastic material, and last about 20 years.
The dimensions of the 360 litre carts are 0.64 metres (25 inches) wide, 0.88 metres (34 and a half inches) deep and 1.13 metres (44 and a half inches) tall.
What happens to the cart if I move?
Do not take the cart with you as it does not belong to you. The cart is the property of the City of Winnipeg and is assigned to each property address through a serial number and an electronic tag. If you move, you must store the cart in a safe place for the next resident to use.
Who is responsible for maintaining the cart?
Residents are responsible for keeping their cart clean and secure. If the cart is damaged or vandalized from neglect, residents will be responsible for the cost of replacing the cart.
Where do I store my cart?
You can store your cart where you now store your garbage container (e.g., carport, garage, at the side of your house, just inside your fence). You must store your cart on your property between collections. Carts left in the back lane are more at risk of theft, vandalism and damage from snowplows.
What happens if my cart is damaged, lost or stolen?
Contact 311. We will look at the circumstances and arrange for you to receive a replacement cart or have your cart repaired (e.g., lids, wheels). If your cart is stolen or damaged through neglect or misuse, we will replace it at your expense.
What can I do with my old garbage container?
Convert your plastic or metal garbage containers into yard waste containers, compost bins or rain barrels. Rain barrel conversion kits are available for purchase at the Living Prairie Museum .
Carts on collection day
Why do the arrows on the cart lid have to face the road?
The automated collection truck cannot turn the cart around as it picks it up. Dumping the cart "backwards" can break or damage the lid.
Why do I need to allow space on all sides of the cart?
The collection arm on the automated truck requires space so it will not tip over other carts or damage property (e.g., parked vehicles, fences).
Can I place materials beside the cart if I don’t have enough room inside?
No. Only garbage inside the cart will be collected. You must save any garbage that doesn't fit in your cart until the next collection day. You can continue to contact 311 to arrange for a special pickup of bulky waste items that don’t fit in the cart (e.g., mattresses, furniture). A charge may apply.
Do I have to place my cart out every collection day?
No. You can place your cart out on any of your collection days.
What if I can’t get my cart to the curb or lane due to health limitations?
The wheeled carts are in many ways easier to roll than lifting a garbage container. However, if you are unable to move the cart and have no one living in the home that is able to do so, you can apply for our walk-up service.
What do I do if I have difficulty placing my cart on collection day (e.g., due to trees, vehicles, telephone poles)?
Contact 311.
Cart security
How do you know which cart belongs to each address?
Every cart is numbered and electronically tagged, so carts can be traced to each address.
Can I purchase and use a cart from a home improvement store?
No. The collection trucks will not empty carts sold by home improvement stores.
Can I chain my cart to my fence in between collection days so that my cart doesn’t go missing?
Yes, but it must be unlocked and moved to your collection point before 7:00 am on collection day.
What can I do with my yard waste in the summer?
You can recycle your yard waste free of charge by dropping it off at any of the three new northwest area leaf it with us summer yard waste depots. It will be composted into a reusable soil-like material and used to landscape finished landfill areas.
The depots accept leaves, lawn thatch, grass clippings, tree clippings, small branches, plants, flowers, and other garden material.
The following new depot locations in the northwest area are open seven days a week, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.:
- Vimy Arena
Hamilton Avenue at Vimy Road (open until August 31) - St. James Civic Centre
2055 Ness Avenue (open until November 15, weather permitting) - Fire Hall #17
1501 Church Avenue (open until November 15, weather permitting)
- grasscycling / mulching – just leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. The clippings quickly dry out, decompose, and recycle nutrients back into the soil and make your lawn healthy and green. Every time you throw away one bag of grass clippings, you are throwing away about 1/4 pound of lawn fertilizer!
- Bagged or loose yard waste, including leaves and branches less than 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter, can be dropped off year-round at Brady Road Landfill. Tipping fees will not apply. However, should any load contain other materials, then fees will be applied on the entire load. Please use lane one when entering the landfill and staff will direct you to the leaf it with us organic yard waste compost drop off area across the road from the scale.
- Brush or tree trimmings can be put out for regular garbage collection as long as branches are less than 100 millimetres (4 inches) in diameter, cut and tied together into lengths no longer than one metre (39 inches) and weigh no more than 34 kilograms (75 pounds).
- Information on what you can do with your yard waste is also available by calling the recycling and garbage information line at 986-8888, code 9813 or contacting 311.
- For information on composting, call Resource Conservation Manitoba at 204-925-3777 or visit www.resourceconservation.mb.ca .
- Refer to the "Rolling out your garbage" automated garbage collection guide (pdf - 265kb).
- Get details on household hazardous waste depots, and electronic waste depots .
- Review our general cart collection information.
- Call the recycling and garbage information line at 986-8888.
- Contact 311.
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This page was last updated on July 9, 2010 |
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