ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services, Chief Constable, and Manager of Environmental Protection Branch

SUBJECT:

Garbage Trucks / Hopper Juice Spills

 

INFORMATION

General Manager of Engineering Services, Chief Constable and Manager of Environmental Protection Branch submits this report for INFORMATION

COUNCIL POLICY

There is no applicable Council Policy

PURPOSE

Council requested a report back in one year on the actions taken in regards to hopper juice spills.

BACKGROUND

Hopper juice is the liquid waste which will leak out of garbage trucks if the seals on the back of the truck box are malfunctioning. The liquid waste is derived from rainwater, which has been allowed to enter the garbage container prior to pick-up and/or other liquid materials that can be squeezed out of the garbage such as kitchen scraps. The City has responded to complaints of hopper juice spills by flushing the lane or street.

DISCUSSION

Council was informed last year that hopper juice spillage is a violation of a number of bylaws, however, the Street and Traffic By-Law (2849) was the most appropriate as it can be enforced by the Vancouver Police Department's Commercial Vehicle Detail, who have the ability to pull over moving vehicles. The Waste Haulers were informed by letter from the VPD after last year's Council meeting, that enforcement action would be taken if hopper juice spills were observed. Although the complaints seemed to diminish for a six month period last year, we have received a number of complaints, since the new year, mainly from the same individual.

The VPD have issued 3 tickets to truck drivers and charges against the Hauling Companies may be layed in the future. Staff have responded 7 times to the complainants' neighbourhood and the City have flushed the lane and streets on 8 occasions. If the offending Company is known, they will receive a bill for the clean-up.

Staff met a second time with the Waste Haulers Association to express the City's concerns and our enforcement policies. The Haulers also discussed the problems they encounter, such as the lids not being kept closed and that they have little control on what types of material their customers dump into the containers.

Council has just approved amendments to the Vancouver Fire Bylaw, which will make it mandatory for containers to be kept closed. Enforcement will be carried out by the Fire Department.

As reported last year, the City is replacing its high density packers with medium density packers some of which are in service now. Less pressure compacting the garbage should result in less juice being generated by the City's collections crews. As well, weekly inspections on the existing packer fleet are conducted by the City's Garage personnel. These weekly inspections include examining the rear seals. Faulty seals are corrected. These regular inspections are planned to be continued with the new packers.

The VPD Commercial Vehicle Detail have given all the Traffic Division members information and instruction for taking enforcement action on hopper juice spillage. City inspection staff will also be given information, so that they can report whenever they see a gushing hopper juice spill from garbage trucks.

CONCLUSION

Enforcement as described above will continue.

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