A recent City of Guelph commissioned telephone survey reveals 80 per cent of residents using waste carts are satisfied with the City’s new waste collection system. This majority is composed of 56 per cent of survey respondents who are more satisfied with the waste carts collection system compared to the previous bag-based program, and an additional 24 per cent who are just as satisfied.
Members of the Planning & Building, Engineering and Environment Committee received a staff report detailing the findings yesterday in advance of the Committee’s May 14 meeting.
Metroline Research Group Inc., an independent research company in Kitchener, administered telephone interviews on behalf of the City to a statistically significant sample of 409 Guelph households using carts, between February 21 and March 5, 2013.
“Community support for the waste cart program is crucial to the success of the City’s waste diversion efforts,” said Heather Connell, the City’s manager of integrated Services at Solid Waste resources. “We’re pleased most users are happy with their waste carts compared to the bags, and will continue to work with residents to address their challenges with the program.”
These survey findings will be used to inform the City’s continuous improvement efforts including future waste cart program communications and Solid Waste Resources’ customer service practices.
The survey also reveals 97 per cent of respondents feel reducing the amount of waste Guelph sends to landfill is important. This is just one of the benefits of the waste cart program.
The cost of the survey—$11,000—is included in the Solid Waste Resources budget, which was approved by Council last November.
The results of this survey are representative of the households within the one-third of the city that received carts last fall.
Read the complete survey findings report from Metroline Research Group Inc., including the research methodology, here.