The leaf and yard waste depot on Creek Rd. in Chatham is very busy but plans to expand for a third time are on hold, for now.
Rick Kucera, Chatham-Kent’s manager of waste and recycling services, says nearly 28,000 vehicles visited the depot after its second expansion last year.
Kucera says that's an average of more than 100 vehicles per operating day over the last two years.
"Business is booming as they say in the spring. Clearly the depot has never been busier. We had a record number of vehicles visit the site in 2015, prompting the latest expansion. We had nearly 31,000 vehicles visit the site," says Kucera.
Kucera says the number of vehicles has more than doubled since the depot opened in 2003 and residents have diverted more than 8,000 metric tonnes of waste a year at the nine municipal depots.
Kucera says the latest expansion increased yard waste capacity by 34%.
"It's for two reasons, primarily to provide capacity for the amount of material we receive in a short period of time, which is generally spring through fall and provide a safer workplace for everyone concerned," Kucera says.
Kucera says that the site has received as many as 575 vehicles on one Saturday during the peak fall season but further expansion will have to wait.
"I think we're good for now. Obviously, we thought we were good back in 2013 and I guess we under estimated what commitment there would be from the community. So, we'll give it a year or two and we should have a real good idea as to what our needs are and whether or not there's need for any further change or expansion," says Kucera.