The new city-wide recycling and garbage collection system is now in effect in Winnipeg.
Trucks were emptying the new automated containers in several neighbourhoods on Oct. 1.
The city says the biggest hiccup has been homeowners putting their bins too close together, posing issues for crews.
"They're actually having to get out and physically move the container or they're struggling at a house where they're taking longer than expected to make sure they don't damage the other container,” said Darryl Drohomerski, manager of solid waste services for the City of Winnipeg.
The carts must be at least an arms length apart, or at opposite sides of the end of your driveway. Otherwise, the automated truck arm could knock the second bin over.
Winnipegger Domenic Sacco said it took crews twice as long Monday to pick up garbage on his bay, compared to the old way.
“Unless they (have) different methods to improve, I don’t think it’s efficient enough,” he said.
While some Winnipeggers expressed concerns over the new system, others said it’s an improvement.
Art Lucidi said the new garbage and recycling carts protect bags from being ripped open.
“Cats and dogs (used to) scratch their way in and you see debris on the road or the driveway itself, so (this) looks like it’s cleaner,” said Lucidi.
Along with garbage and recycling pickup, the city also has new yard waste pickup every two weeks. Many big-box retailers have already run out of the paper bags used for yard waste.
“The company that makes the bags, that makes them for all the retailers in Winnipeg, has been shipping bags here for four weeks and will continue to ship for another four to six weeks," said Drohomerski.
Some large retailers said they expect to have more stock by the end of the week, while others don’t know when they’ll have the bags back in stock.
Residents' new garbage and recycling day can be found in the booklet provided with the carts, and will remain the same each week, with the exception of holidays, when pick-up will be the following day and will return to normal the next week.
Yard waste will also be collected every two weeks between April and November, on the same day as garbage.
The City of Winnipeg said more information on the garbage and recycling system is available on its website. If all else fails, residents can also call 311.
