Changes to garbage rates in the works

The city is suggesting that the changes take place as soon as council approves them.

According to the report, the increase is needed to raise funds to meet “ongoing environmental regulatory requirements and landfill facility growth.”

“Many of these changes are necessitated by the provincial environmental regulators who require capital investments in the landfill,” said Colin Innes, city public works director, in a report the city’s executive committee will consider.
“These capital projects cannot be financed using existing rate structure.”
The report notes that several factors are contributing to the need to keep funds in reserves for future improvement. The first obvious one is that an increase of population means an increase of incoming waste.

In addition, some smaller landfills have been closed, making the city’s landfill the main garbage intake for the region. As well, smaller regions tend to have less efficient recycling programs meaning more waste.

The new bylaw would, in addition to the fee structure, address some other issues, including the disposal of construction materials, contaminated soil and dead animals.

As well, it plans to give more authority to bylaw officers and city officials to enforce the rules as bylaws and charge fines that could, if not paid, be tacked on to a resident’s tax bill.

If the city’s executive committee accepts the new bylaw, council will then have to give it three readings before it can be approved.

adesouza@panow.com

by Andrew de Souza

Changes to garbage rates in the works

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