Neepawa businesses awaiting return of dumpsters

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Published on Thursday, January 19, 2017

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson
The Neepawa Banner

A short turn around in the change of garbage contractors is being blamed for the unsightly piles of commercial garbage collecting around Neepawa this month. Without curbside pickup, most of the town’s commercial properties depend on communal dumpsters, located in central locations around town, to dispose of their garbage. However, businesses have been without dumpsters since the beginning of January.

When the garbage collection contract with TAC Ventures ended on Dec. 31, 2016, the dumpsters provided by that company were taken away.  The new collection contract with MWM Environmental began on Jan. 1, but the Town’s manager of Operations, Denis Saquet, explains, “Unfortunately, due to the fast turnaround of the contract, our new collector is only able to start collecting commercial bins Feb. 1.”

Saquet said that the Town of Neepawa is planning to re-install the commercial bins, in their previous locations.  “The Town of Neepawa is still committed  to collecting commercial garbage,” he said, adding, “Municipal Waste Management has assured the Town that they have 50 brand new bins on their way and plan to have those here on the first.” The only bin that won’t be replaced is the one in the  Shop Easy parking lot, which is now being handled privately.

Until the new bins arrive, users are being told to place their bags of garbage and recycling at the former bin locations. In some spots, this is creating large piles of garbage. The location behind the Roxy Theatre, for example, is used by the 55 residential units of Yellowhead Manor, the six residential units in the Kerr Block , just west of the Roxy and all of the businesses in that area. 

Unlike residential pickup, where garbage is kept inside and then brought to the curb on pickup days, the commercial garbage accumulates outside until the designated pick up day, raising concerns. “It’s just a matter of time until rodents get in,” said Keith Porter, owner of M&K Cleaning and the caretaker of both Yellowhead Manor and the Kerr Block.

Businesses are charged a levy for their garbage service and Saquet explains that this fee covers collection costs and tipping fees at the landfill. He added that the communal bins are provided by the Town at these locations as a means of convenience, rodent control and an effort to keep the area cleaner. “Traditional bag pickup at each location was becoming too much of an issue,” he explained.

Bags of garbage piled up in the back alley behind the Neepawa Fire Hall and the Roxy Theatre on Tuesday. (photos by Kate Jackman-Atkinson)