Winnipeg trash collection fails seniors

Winnipeg's new and much criticized garbage collection system is getting more failing grades — this time from seniors in West Kildonan.

Nelda Burdy, 90, is supposed to get walk-up service to pick up her trash. That's where the garbage collectors get the cans, empty them and put them back in place.

The system is set up to assist the elderly and disabled, but Burdy says her garbage still hasn't been picked up despite repeated calls to the city.

"They are getting paid for this aren't they? They were supposed to pick it up two weeks ago. It's still here," she said.

"I don't know. It looks pretty bad. I have a feeling it's going to get worse."

The city's new trash service has been heavily criticized since it began at the start of the month. Although the contractor, Emterra, has promised to work out the kinks, there are still many problems being reported.

The company has said some of the drivers needed to get used to the new routes.

For Burdy, however, the trash service has been in place since August. It was one of the first to get it, before the rest of the city.

After three months, the kinks are still there.

City Coun. Ross Eadie, who represents that area, said Emterra isn't doing its job.

Representatives from the company told him they would solve this problem in September and it's still isn't happening, he said.