Action Plan Put Forward to Resolve Leaking Garbage Trucks

By Wilson Lo, Barrhaven East Councillor

In August 2023, residents across the community noted garbage trucks were leaking material on their streets.

Staff and Miller Waste, our area’s residential collection contractor, became aware of the defective vehicles and created an action plan to combat the problem. The plan included a more intensive maintenance cycle and renting added vehicles.

The action plan successfully addressed the situation last year, but the issue resurfaced earlier this year.
Though, each time a resident reported a leak, Miller addressed the issue by sending street sweepers to clean-up, at their expense, the situation persisted. Both the City and Miller determined this was not sustainable; plus, the fact it was a reactive measure meant it was a bad idea to allow the situation to continue.

After a summer of continued leaks and resident feedback, Miller will be deploying thirty newer trucks to Ottawa throughout September and October.

These vehicles will complement the four added to the fleet last year. Residents may have already seen these white garbage trucks roaming their streets.

Bought and rented at the contractor’s expense, the newer vehicles will allow Miller to outright retire their oldest in the worst condition, while others can spend more time in maintenance without affecting service.

The contractor also hired an in-house welder to help hasten repairs and other maintenance.

The lifespan of a garbage truck is usually about 10 years and tied to the life of the contract. The contract with Miller, extended by three years, which began in 2012 and was due to end in 2022, will end next year.

Unfortunately, that means the current fleet of vehicles were supposed to have retired two years ago. Although they are driveable and safe, the more operational parts of the vehicles are suffering fatigue.

The bottom of a vehicle’s loading area includes a sewage tank to store liquids squeezed out by the compaction of waste. The tanks, which have experienced stress and fatigue from 12 years of usage, are leaking.

Despite the previous Council receiving assurances from staff that there would be no issues with the fleet, staff extended the contract with no provisions for more maintenance requirements to address situations like this.

Either way, looking ahead, I have asked staff to include those considerations if they decide to extend any future waste collection contract.

The current waste collection contract ends in June 2025, at which point brand new vehicles will enter service with the new contract beginning in July 2025.

Please write to me or open a service request through 3-1-1 if leaks continue, on your street. Thank you!

The issue of leaking garbage trucks has resurfaced in Barrhaven. )Barrhaven Independent archive photo by Mike Carroccetto)