Apartment dwellers in the community say recent changes made to the garbage contract are having the most impact on seniors, low-income residents, and environmentally-conscious citizens.
In a letter addressed to Sackville town council, tenants of a Queens Road apartment building Pat and Henry Cormier raised their concerns about the effects of the town's decision to modify the garbage collection contract earlier this winter.
The Cormiers addressed several issues in their letter, including the rent increases that are hitting many tenants in the town.
" . . . the price increases are on the backs of low-income students or people as well as fixed-income seniors," they wrote.
Coun. John Higham argued during council's monthly meeting last Monday night that several landlords he has spoken with in recent weeks have made the decision not to raise their rent this year despite the added garbage collection costs, mostly due to lower fuel and oil prices compared to last year.
He also stated that the town has been subsidizing these "businesses" for many years and if it were to continue to do so, a hike in the tax rate would have to be considered -- which would have an impact on all local residents.
"I think it's important for people to know there's a lot more going on here that they should be aware of," Higham said.
Coun. Merrill Fullerton suggested that the landlords in the community should possibly band together to create an association that could try and fight for a better rate from the contractors.
"You can't expect government to do everything . . . if you're not willing to help yourself," he said of the landlords.
The Cormiers also pointed out, however, that they are disappointed in town council's decision to remove apartment buildings (greater than four units) from the garbage contract because many landlords are now choosing to not follow the town's wet/dry separation program due to the increased costs.
"400 apartment dwellers are affected by this decision in town. So this means each week, garbage from 400 households go to the landfill . . . this is a huge step backwards," they wrote.
Higham said landlords do have access to a waste credit system in which they can apply for a rebate for up to four units if they comply with Sackville's blue/green recycling program, helping to ease their costs.
The Cormiers also stated they were concerned over the larger bins that are now being used for apartment garbage, much bigger and heavier than what was previously used.
"We now have two six-yard dumpsters with heavy, high tops that several older seniors, single women seniors and people in wheelchairs cannot access at all."
Coun. Fullerton said he had only received one letter over the past few months from a tenant concerned about the changes to garbage collection and insisted that it's perhaps time to put the issue to rest.
The Cormiers, however, say they aren't about to leave the matter alone.
"The situation this council has put us in, in 2009, is really appalling and we are sure going to further investigate this matter," they wrote.
