The Editor,
The city of Coquitlam’s bylaw that fines people $500 fine for garbage carts placed out ahead of the scheduled collection day has been in place since 1992.
Now, Coquitlam is vigilant but the city egregiously overlooked educating the residents of this bylaw for 24 years.
The solid waste management bylaw was updated in 2016 but the $500 fine and no required warnings hasn’t changed since 2009, according to the city of Coquitlam engineering and public works department.
Warnings have never had to be given out and it’s up to the discretion of the bylaw enforcement officers, according to the city of Coquitlam employee I spoke with recently.
I hope other residents of Coquitlam are as offended as I am by the excessive $500 fine for cart placement and petition Coquitlam city council to:
1. Lower the fine so it is in line with other Metro Vancouver cities;
2. Allow carts out the night before provided they are locked to prevent animals from getting into the cart and have residents unlock the carts on collection day.
George Webber
Coquitlam
