Dear Editor
Regarding Sarah Savic Kallesoe’s comments about tipping garbage collectors:
Tipping is generally given as a gratuity for exceptional service or that which is above the standard level of acceptance. Where we live in North Burnaby, this has yet to be demonstrated by our recycling collectors (assuming they’re different from the garbage collectors).
Over the past year, I’ve called the cIty at least three times to complain about recyclable items strewn in the laneway after pickup - yogurt containers, flattened boxes, all manner of papers. Sometimes there was still paper left in the recycling bag. Driving down the laneway afterwards indicates that we weren't singled out - recyclables would be sitting beside overturned blue bins
and yellow collection bags of my neighbours as well.
I once called the city after hearing the guy in the recycling truck swearing and cursing out loud … from my bedroom window!
Although I couldn’t see him, I could certainly hear him as he continued down the lane and continued uttering his profanities while picking up my neighbour’s recyclables. While frustrations might be understandable when big boxes are wedged into bags or blue bins overloaded making them difficult to dump, this was certainly not the case.
I'm not sure how difficult it is to dump a blue bin or yellow bag full of paper products, but if collectors are physically incapable of doing the work (or dislike doing it), then they shouldn’t be doing it. The lack of professionalism I’ve seen demonstrates immaturity or laziness (or both), and such behaviour is not acceptable in a neighbourhood with children. If the standard level of service can’t be delivered, then tipping is out of the question.
Last time I spoke to the supervisor about the issue just before Christmas, he said he’d take a drive down the laneway afterwards to see what I meant as he had apparently spoken to the operator in question. We have yet to see if this will resolve the issue.
Until then, here is my tip for our recycling collector: Do a better job.
Brent M, Burnaby
