Tuesday December 23, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
City of Langford Council at their December 15 meeting approved measures to better manage waste collection in the community and directed staff to explore options for garbage collection by a single private garbage collection company.
The decision follows growing concerns about overflowing public garbage cans, likely due to the growing population, increased density in the downtown, and misuse of bins from household waste.
Currently, Langford does not operate a municipal garbage collection service, and instead, waste pickup is managed by private contractors on an open-market basis.
Through research, staff found that residents in Langford are likely paying more, on average, annually for a private garbage collection service than residents in other B.C. municipalities that have either a municipally managed or contracted bi-weekly garbage collection service.
The City’s research also showed that the majority of municipalities in BC with a population of 20,000 or more have some level of involvement in garbage collection, whether it be a service run directly by the municipality or operated under a municipal contract. Langford has been planning various strategic plans and its revised Official Community Plan around the expectation of population growth doubling to 100,000 over the next 25 years.
Because garbage collection in Langford is not mandatory, some residents may choose not to enter a private waste collection contract, which can result in residential waste being dumped in public or commercial bins.
Local garbage suppliers include GFL Environmental Inc (Canada-wide and in the USA, with a local franchise in Langford), Capital City Recycling (local to Vancouver Island), and Waste Management (US company).
Further, Langford does not have the additional benefits that come from a municipal garbage collection service, such as large-item pickup days and yard waste collection.
At their December 15 meeting, Council approved several key actions to improve waste management in the community:
- The service level for public waste receptacle collection will now increase as required,
- a new style of receptacle will be introduced, featuring recycling racks, wildlife-resistant designs, and
- increased capacity in some areas.
Consultant:
Council also directed staff to engage a consultant (at a cost of $85,000) to review and validate the staff recommendation for a municipally contracted residential curbside garbage collection service.
If deemed feasible, the consultant will prepare a scope for a municipal garbage service contract, and draft a bylaw for a coordinated and centralized approach, in line with the CRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan.
December 15 meeting:
To hear the garbage management discussion see the December 15, 2025 council meeting video, visit Langford.ca/Meetings.
The garbage management discussion follows public participation and a 1 hour 10 minute city parking presentation as heard by council followed by council’s questions about that presentation.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | DISPOSAL & RECYCLING