Chilliwack councillor says all hands on deck to fix curbside collection mess, but Fairfield Island resident skeptical

CHILLIWACK – Chilliwack Councillor Jason Lum took to social media Wednesday morning to apologize over missed curbside collection pickups by city contractor E360S as part of the city’s new curbside collection program, saying those mistakes are not acceptable.

In a lengthy statement, Lum said he’s heard frustrations from residents “loud and clear” regarding the ongoing missed garbage, recycling and compost pickups since the transition from Emterra to E360S took effect on May 1. He says he understands that for many households, including his own household and neighbourhood included, the ongoing issues transcend simple transition issues.

“Many residents have experienced repeated missed collections over multiple weeks despite reporting them through the proper channels. I am not going to make excuses for that. It is not acceptable,” said Lum. “Council has tasked staff and the contractor with finding solutions and resolving these issues, full stop.”

Lum said there will eventually be a point at which city staff and the contractor figure out what went wrong and why, but getting people’s curbside materials is the most paramount task.

“There will be time to debrief what went wrong and why, but right now the priority is getting people’s curbside materials picked up as quickly as possible and restoring reliable service,” Lum said. “I have impressed upon staff and the contractor how critical it is that these issues are resolved quickly and that service levels return to the expectations residents have. I understand mistakes can happen and transitions can be difficult, but the citizens of Chilliwack have been more than patient.”

Lum said city staff have outlined several actions the contractor has committed to, including bringing on additional trucks and staffing resources. Council has also directed staff to secure additional equipment, at the contractor’s expense, to help address the backlog of missed pickups.

“We will be monitoring this situation daily, and I strongly encourage residents who continue to experience missed collections to report them so outstanding issues can be tracked and addressed,” Lum concluded. “These are not the types of posts I enjoy writing, but I’d rather address it up front instead of a template email response. Accountability matters. I can do better. We can do better. We will do better. Thank you for your patience.”

Image: Contributed / A rented collection truck not bearing the name of E360S is shown driving through Fairfield Island on Tuesday, May 19.

However, those sentiments have not necessarily translated into immediate solutions. For example, a Fairfield Island resident named Katrina told Fraser Valley Today that multiple homes on several streets throughout her Fairfield Island neighbourhood were missed yesterday, even with additional resources and rented garbage trucks being deployed.

Katrina says multiple homes on Fairbanks Crescent, Shamrock Drive, Kent Road, Gilbert Avenue, Grant Street, Brice Road, Hymar Drive, Manor Drive, Killarney Drive, Fairwood Drive, and Strathcona Road did not get their garbage and green bin collected on Tuesday (May 19), while some (or half) on Beverley Drive, Topley Avenue and Dublin Drive were missed. She’s been following the issue meticulously in a neighbourhood Facebook group in which several residents reported that they never got their materials collected yesterday.

In an email sent to Mayor Ken Popove and city staff, Katrina says that despite the assurances provided, the scheduled garbage and green bin pickup was once again missed on Tuesday.

“This is now well beyond a simple transition issue,” Katrina wrote. “Residents in my area have experienced repeated missed collections over a two-week period, and approximately 10 streets in our neighbourhood alone have been affected. While residents continue receiving updates about plans, commitments, and follow-ups, the actual service failures are continuing in real time. The situation has now become a serious public safety concern. Garbage and organics are accumulating outside homes for extended periods, and bears are actively present in the nearby area. Residents should not be forced into unsafe conditions because the City’s contractor cannot fulfill basic municipal services.”

What was especially concerning to her is that after being told Kent Road was specifically identified as urgently requiring collection and supposedly completed on Saturday, collections are still being missed again immediately afterward.

“This demonstrates that the problem is not isolated incidents, but an ongoing operational failure. At this point, residents deserve more than reassurances and referral emails. We need immediate completion of missed collections; clear public communication with accurate timelines; enforcement of accountability measures against E360S; transparency regarding penalties, corrective actions, or contingencies the City is implementing; assurance that public safety risks related to wildlife and waste accumulation are being addressed urgently. Residents pay for dependable waste collection services and should not have to repeatedly report the same failures while garbage continues piling up outside homes. I urge the City to take stronger and more visible action immediately before this situation worsens further.”

After publication of this story, Rainbow Gas in Yarrow emailed Fraser Valley Today claiming Yarrow has not had any garbage pickups in May.

“Bins are overflowing on the curbs. Yarrow Days is right around the corner and the community is going to smell like garbage.”

However, a Yarrow resident Fraser Valley Today spoke with said she has had her curbside bins collected.