Councillor says blue boxes need updates

Hamilton's blue box containers haven't really changed since they were introduced about 20 years ago, says councillor Chad Collins.

He believes it's about time recycling containers were revised for a 21st century environment.

Mr. Collins is urging the city's waste management department to look at replacing Hamilton's blue box containers. He said other municipalities have adopted larger containers, the size of city's green carts or blue boxes with a lid to keep recycling material from blowing around the neighbourhood. York Region is examining recycling carts and blue box containers with lids.

"I have three blue boxes myself and they are overflowing," said Mr. Collins. "We've had the same (recycling) system since the '80s and '90s. Other municipalities have larger boxes."

Mr. Collins said his blue boxes, which cost about $5 per container, fill up with recyclable materials quickly during the twice-a-month pickup schedule Hamilton has established. That means residences with homes without garages, and smaller residential units with limited space have a difficult time finding storage space for the multiple blue boxes needed to contain the recycling material, said Mr. Collins.

The solution would be to have one large blue box container, he said. Add a lid to the container and it would prevent material from blowing around the streets contributing to Hamilton's litter problem.

Hamilton spends about $2 million per year collecting litter throughout the city.

"Is the (current blue box) system the best fit for Hamilton?" said Mr. Collins. "I doubt that it is. This is something that needs to be looked at.

Hamilton's public works committee, which Mr. Collins is a member of, approved his motion this week to look at larger blue boxes. Politicians will vote on the motion at their March 26 council meeting.

The issue will also be reviewed by the Solid Waste Management Master Plan Steering Committee. If the motion is approved, a final report will be made to the public works committee and council prior to the 2009 budget process.