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Langley, move y'er cans - the new garbage collection system is starting

Langley Township is delivering new garbage and green waste carts.
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Rachel Randt

The new garbage cans are being delivered to homes around Langley Township but what are people to do with their old cans?

The Township has thought of that and scheduled four drop-off days in different neighbourhoods. The cans will be recycled.

The new garbage can collection system starts in August and September.

In 2015, the Township tested new containers in five neighbourhoods as a pilot and found the average amount of garbage went from 11 kilograms per week to seven kilograms. And the participation rate for seperating out green waste went from 31 per cent to 78 per cent.

Based on that success, the Township decided to go with this system for all its residential garbage collection.

The change only applies to homes that receive Township garbage and recycling collection.

Garbage will be collected every second week. That’s already the norm in Langley City, Abbotsford, Surrey and Vancouver.

Green waste and recycling will be collected each week. Those receiving Township garbage collection will receive a green cart for green waste. Recycing will still use the blue box and blue/yellow bag system.

Detailed information packages are being delivered to homes explaining about the program. The new cans can be lifted by the garbage and recycling trucks.

As for old garbage and green cans, people can recycle them at events Aug. 21 at the Langley Events Centre, on Sept. 11 at Aldergrove Community Secondary, on Sept. 18 at James Kennedy Elementary in Walnut Grove, or on Oct. 2 at the George Preston Recreation Centre.

Each of the four collection events are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. People are asked to remove any refuse and clean the cans before dropping them off as dirty cans won’t be accepted. At the Aug. 21 event, there were several cans dropped off with garbage and green waste still in them.

PHOTO: Township employee Chris Combe knocked the wheels off garbage cans at the Langley Events Centre. Many Township residents turned in their unneeded cans at the Aug. 21 event. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance)