Weekly Blue Box pick-up will return for 2018

County residents exasperated with the every two week Blue Box off-season schedule will be pleased to hear weekly pick up will stay in place this year after it starts up again in May.

Councillors at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting approved the Centre and South Hastings Waste Services Board’s $578,091 levy for 2018. While the overall budget was reduced from last year by almost one percent, Prince Edward County’s portion increased slightly.

“We pay a percentage on a tonnage basis,” explained councillor Barry Turpin. “This year, based on the tonnage from last year, our portion of the budget is 20.78 per cent… However, the weekly pick up is an enhancement that is now worked into the budget.”

The amount exceeds the $574,200 the County allowed in the 2018 operating budget by $3,891 which will be funded from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve.

Councillor Roy Pennell was pleased to hear about the new Blue Box schedule – which starts in May, and in the past, has ended in the fall.

“This has been a bone of contention for a lot of taxpayers,” he said. “I’m going to be pleased to tell them.”

In December, council agreed to form a joint municipal board to address waste management needs on a collective and an area-wide basis with one board of management overlooking more than $2 million worth of services on behalf of nine municipalities.

The councils of each party to the agreement have until April 30 to approve the budget. At least 75 per cent of the parties must agree or the budget will be re-submitted to the board for revision.