INSIDE: Costly commute
Pg. 5
T H U R S D A Y October 3, 2013
20 A flippin’ panic! N E W S , NATURE
SPORTS,
WEATHER
&
E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Kudos for composting
– SIGN OF THE TIMES
Abbotsford trash rate down 43 per cent this year
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
T
he City of Abbotsford has reduced the amount of garbage it is sending to the dump by almost 45 per cent, thanks to its new compost collection program. The city began the weekly collection of compostable materials from singlefamily homes in January along with recyclables while garbage was reduced to bi-weekly pickup. In the first six months of the program, garbage tonnage collected dropped by 43 per cent, from 6,271 tonnes down to 3,561 compared to the same time frame in 2012, a second quarterly report shows. As well, diversion rates for organics and recyclables from the garbage stream has gone up to 67 per cent, from 46 per cent the year prior. Mayor Bruce Banman said he was pleased with the numbers six months into the composting initiative. “It’s an excellent way to reduce the garbage stream,” he said.
– ROCHELLE BAKER/TIMES
An excavator shifts organic waste during the Net Zero Waste compost facility’s official opening Wednesday. For more photos, use your smart phone’s Layar app and scan the logo on the left. “What’s more, it’s environmentally the right thing to do and the city saves money. It’s a win/win.” While significant gains have been made in reducing garbage there is still room for improvement. A recent garbage audit of 277 homes
in July found that 32 per cent of waste was made up of compostable materials. However, a similar audit in 2011 found Abbotsford garbage was 57 per cent organics. see COMPOST, page A6
Surrey Six trial: building manager discovered bodies KIM BOLAN The Vancouver Sun orman Carothers’ voice cracked Monday as he described walking into Suite 1505 of the Balmoral Tower almost six years ago and finding six people dead inside. The now-retired building manager told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge that he didn’t like to enter tenants’ apartments, but that he had a sinking feeling something bad had happened. He had been searching for Abbotsford fireplace repairman Ed Schellenberg for more than 30 minutes on Oct. 19, 2007 and had found no sign of him anywhere in the 121-unit Surrey highrise. So he went back to the penthouse floor where Schellenberg had last been working and he knocked on 1505. There was
N
– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
A rainbow came out over Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday as the rain stopped for a brief time. The current reprieve from the wet weather is temporary, as another system is expected to work its way into the Fraser Valley by Sunday, bringing more rain to the region.
Grisly crime scene found after searching highrise suite for Abbotsford man no answer, but he could hear music. “Something told me I just had to go in because this was an emergency,” said Carothers, the first witness at the Surrey Six murder trial of Cody Haevischer, Matthew Johnston and Michael Le. “I come across the scene and I see six people on the floor.” see TRIAL, page A7
The Salvation Army of Abbotsford and Mission Independent Financial Services 201-2190 West Railway Sreet, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E2
Rick Barkwell, FMA
Financial Advisor 604-851-4292 rick.barkwell@raymondjames.ca
Conservative Investment Advice
Member CIPF
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores are very much in need of your clean, gently used clothing items. When you donate to or shop at our Thrift Stores you are helping us help others. All proceeds from the sale of your items support vital programs and services right here in our community. Together, we are making a difference in our community.
‘Like’ us on Facebook at The Salvation Army Thrift Store - Abbotsford
34081 Gladys Ave. Abbotsford 604.852.9305 • 7221 Park St. & Lougheed Mission 604.826.1315