Gillingham Talks Trash on the Campaign Trail
Scott Gillingham is talking trash on the campaign trail today — proposing a package of measures to keep Winnipeg cleaner, improve neighbourhood cleanup and get replacement garbage and recycling carts to homeowners faster.
The centrepiece of the plan is a sixth Neighbourhood Action Team dedicated to downtown Winnipeg. The City currently operates five seven-person teams that rotate through neighbourhoods across all 15 wards, tackling issues including debris, potholes, damaged signs, sidewalk problems and tree maintenance.
“Neighbourhood Action Teams are about getting back to the basics and fixing the things people see every day,” said Gillingham. “Adding a sixth team gives downtown a dedicated cleanup crew while allowing the five existing teams to spend more time cycling through neighbourhoods across the rest of Winnipeg.”
Under the plan, the new downtown team would receive immediate referrals of 311 calls involving garbage, graffiti and other cleanup priorities in its service area. It would also establish a direct line with the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and Exchange District BIZ so crews can respond to emerging cleanup needs and coordinate work with the BIZ Enviro and Clean Teams.
Gillingham would also expand the City’s use of lockable public garbage bins downtown by at least 200 additional units. Gillingham led efforts to install more than 120 of the new-style bins along Portage Avenue and Main Street last fall. They are designed to better contain garbage and reduce litter spilling onto streets and sidewalks.
The third part of the plan would address a separate frustration for Winnipeg homeowners: long waits for replacement garbage and recycling carts.
Gillingham would prioritize reducing replacement-cart wait times to less than one week, (within one regular collection cycle) so residents whose carts are damaged, lost or otherwise need replacement are not left waiting for extended periods.
“Keeping the city clean and getting the basics right matters,” said Gillingham. “If there’s garbage piling up, we should deal with it quickly. If a homeowner needs a replacement cart, they shouldn’t be waiting weeks. These are simple services, and residents should be able to count on them.”
Policy at a glance:
Add a sixth Neighbourhood Action Team dedicated to downtown, allowing the existing five teams to increase rotations through other neighbourhoods.
Give the downtown team immediate referrals of relevant 311 cleanup requests and direct coordination with downtown BIZ organizations.
Install 200 additional lockable public garbage bins downtown.
Establish a target of replacing damaged or missing residential garbage and recycling carts within one week or one regular collection cycle.