City approves weekly residential garbage collection until at least 2028

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The municipal government has signed a contract for up to five years of garbage collections in residential areas.

During the January 12th meeting, the City of Fort St. John council approved a three-year contract with Element Disposal in Dawson Creek for residential garbage and recyclables collection in Fort St. John. 

The contract will run from 2026 to 2028, with an optional two-year extension, and will provide the city with weekly garbage and bi-weekly recyclable collection.

Garbage collection has been weekly in the City of Fort St. John since March of 2020, when a decision was made by council to increase curbside collection due to “concerns related to Covid-19,” according to a report from staff. Previously, garbage and recycling were collected on alternating weeks. 

When asked by the council during the January 2026 meeting why collection was still weekly six years later, staff stated the increase continued to benefit the city, and no need was seen to decrease it. 

The collected solid waste will be disposed of at the North Peace Regional Landfill, and recycling items will be given to the Recycle BC depot. 

In 2026, residents will pay $8 for garbage and $5 recycling on their monthly utility bills, meaning solid waste collection will cost residents $96 a year and recycling will cost $60.

According to a staff report, which estimated a total of 7,000 carts of garbage and recycling collected every year, the contract with Element Disposal will cost the city approximately $980,000 in 2026.

This cost will increase throughout the contract’s duration, with the second year predicted to be approximately $1.01 million, the third year estimated at $1.04 million, and the optional years four and five approximated at $1.07 million and $1.1 million respectively.