A local developer, Ray Dowse of Westside Properties Inc., has collaborated with a local company, Bristal Hauling, to bring an innovative new waste collection method to Niverville: underground waste receptables.
Dowse says that he takes great pride in the aesthetic appearance of his commercial properties, so much so that even waste collection isn’t something to be taken for granted. The new receptacles have been installed along Drovers Run on the west end of Niverville.
“We wanted a solution that would be appealing for the long term,” says Dowse. “Many times, the typical steel bins seen at residential or commercial developments become beaten up or they don’t have sufficient capacity and tenants begin to pile garbage or recycling on the outside of bins. Many development owners using typical steel bins will build an enclosure around them for aesthetics. However, over time the enclosures begin to look worn as well.”
He says that the ownership group behind Westside Properties Inc. prides itself on developing properties that are both functional and have aesthetic appeal—and the businesses that set up shop on their land appreciate the same attention to detail.
The new Durabac underground bins are great options for reasons beyond just curb appeal, though. Their increased capacity means it takes longer to fill them, saving developers money in terms of the frequency of waste pickup. While a regular dumpster typically holds six cubic yards of waste, these underground bins hold up to eight cubic yards.
As well, odours are kept at bay because temperatures beneath the ground are lower, causing slower bacterial growth, and thus less smell.
Another big benefit for Dowse was that the underground bins allow for more parking area.
“All developments, residential and commercial, require a certain number of parking stalls in their site plan,” Dowse says. “We take up less parking stalls in the development by using these units compared to having more of the standard bins at the site.”
Emanuel Toews of Bristal Hauling is equally excited to try out these new bins for the first time in his waste pickup area. An added bonus for his company is that Bristal’s garbage trucks don’t need to be retrofitted to make use of them.
“This is an idea we found,” says Toews. “We just want to create more options for our customers, so this is one way that we’re expanding our service offerings.”
Toews says the bins can be used for both landfill waste and recyclable materials. The upper lid lifts for easy dumping by Bristal Hauling. The attractively designed aboveground portion of the bin provides side-door access to users which can be locked after hours.
The bin, though, comes with a steeper price tag than your typical dumpster, since it requires a hole to be dug and a concrete sleeve inserted to prevent toxins from seeping into the ground.
Still, Toews says, these types of bins are gaining in popularity with developers in Winnipeg and Steinbach.
“We try and be ahead of the game, especially for a small company,” Toews says. “We want to make [these bins] a common sight around here even though we’re smaller than places like Winnipeg.”
Dowse, too, would be glad to see the bins catch on all over the region.
“I’m excited to see how these perform in the years to come,” Dowse says. “If this system works the way I anticipate, I will look to use them in other developments as well.”
