Tri-City residents will be able to drop off their recyclables at a larger and better organized recycling facility when a new $40 million waste transfer opens on United Boulevard in Coquitlam in late 2019.
Construction is expected to start in June on the new facility that will be built by Metro Vancouver at 995 United Blvd. and will provide residential and commercial waste services as well as a new recycling depot for Tri-City residents.
Monday, Coquitlam council agreed to pay $195,000 a year for the new depot, $113,000 more than it pays now, with Port Coquitlam expected to pay $69,630 and Port Moody contributing $31,093 annually towards the cost of running the new recycling depot.
Solid waste fees currently cover the cost and Coquitlam will look for efficiencies to cover the increase.
In a report, councillors were told that Coquitlam residents use the current depot more because they live closer to it and the new cost-sharing agreement will also have to include the price of the new facility.
Under the funding formula, Coquitlam pays 61% of the cost, but accounts for 71% of the users.
Still, residents can expect better service and fewer lineups when the new transfer station opens.
The recycling centre will be three times larger than the current one and will accept all items currently allowed, with room to expand. As well, the new transfer station will have separate scales for commercial and residential users.
A new name is also being sought for the centre with a number of options up for consideration including Fraser Mills, United Boulevard, Central Fraser and North East, among others.
When it opens, the new transfer station is expected to serve 200,000 customers annually.
