Frustrated at trash service in Coquitlam

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The Editor,

A copy of a letter sent to Coquitlam council:

I write to you today to express my frustration with the garbage collection services provided by IPI.

I have endured months of poor service, lack of follow-through and rude and disrespectful behaviour by the city’s contractor while discussing my complaints on the phone. It is not the job of a city resident to complain to the contractor; it is the job of the city to record and collect complaints from citizens and address them with the contractor. It is the job of the city to notify the contractor of service issues and to work with the contractor to have the concerns addressed.

I contact the city and am told to contact the contractor, I ask to speak to the engineering department liaison with the contractor and on numerous occasions, no one is able to speak to me, no matter the time of day.

When I have on occasion been able to speak to someone from the engineering department, I usually receive a follow-up call from the contractor. I believe it is the city’s job to address my concerns as it has have hired this company to collect the garbage.

Every three or four weeks I complain and the following three or four weeks’ service improves, then the service seems to get worse again.

It is not my job to collect waste left on the street by incompetent staff. It is not my job to drive around my community and ensure competent pick-up has occurred. It is not my job to take photographs of the refuse left behind by IPI.

There needs to be action on this issue. We as citizens should not bear the responsibility of ensuring a city-contracted private enterprise is fulfilling its obligations.

Nothing has changed since this began months ago. I would support the city in terminating the contract in favour of more competent service provided by another contractor, even if it means paying more taxes.

Douglas Dunn, Coquitlam