New garbage rules kick in for the region this week

You might notice some new garbage trucks in the region this week.

That's because Region of Waterloo's new waste management trucks hit the road in the city's and townships as part of a new program that sees garbage collected every other week, but blue boxes and green bins collected on a weekly basis.

Cari Rastas Howard, the project manager ofwaste management programs for the region, said the side load trucks will be seen driving around the townships, while the cities will see new top loader trucks.

"The townships will have a blue box truck and a co-collection truck, similar to what people have been seeing in the tri-cities," said Rastas Howard. "They will be collecting green bins and garbage one week and green bins and yard waste the next week."

The vehicles will make it easier for workers to collect waste when they stop in front of your house.

"In the tri-cities we will be collecting blue boxes and green bins altogether in one truck," she said. "There is just a single garbage truck that will come around every second week to your house to pick up the garbage."

Since the changes have been announced Rastas Howard said more people have been using the green bin and the region hasnoticed an increase in tonnage. In 2016 it was the first year the region received over 10,000 tonnes of green bin material.

The Region of Waterloo has distributed a schedule for garbage pick up but they encourage homeowners to download the My Waste app which they say offers waste information and sets out reminders for collection days.