County going to full-pay system for trash

By Morgan Ian Adams, Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin February 22 2011

Simcoe County wants you to pay for your trash.

Starting next summer, county residents will be expected to pay for every bag of garbage they put to the curb.

“It will be a cost-effective method for controlling garbage,” said Collingwood Deputy-mayor Rick Lloyd, who is also vice-chair of the county’s corporate services committee, which is presently considering the move.

County council’s waste management subcommittee will be working on the mechanics of implementing the new system and will be reporting back to corporate services committee on their recommendations in coming months.

“We should be proud of what the county and its residents have achieved the past four years,” said Warden Cal Patterson. “But if we want to bring further waste diversion and reduction to Simcoe County, we must change the way we look at and perceive waste. It takes bold moves to help change behaviours.”

Every bag of garbage placed for collection will be required to have a garbage tag, doing away with the current one-bag limit. It also removes the charge for this service from municipal taxes, making waste collection similar to a public utility.

Lloyd said the price-point being considered is $2 a tag, and county residents may get a number of free tags to help through the transition.

He also noted it will straighten out inequalities in the system; for instance, Collingwood residents are only allowed one bag a week, while residents in other parts of the county are able to put out two bags. And taking the cost of garbage completely off the tax bill will be a savings to condominium residents, who do not receive municipal services and also pay for waste collection through condo fees.

“You’ll only pay for what you put out, and it should encourage recycling,” said Lloyd. “This is about changing behaviour, and it will be a learning exercise for all of us.”

“User-pay provides a financial incentive to residents who participate fully in available waste diversion programs and reduce their garbage requiring disposal,” said Patterson. “It will also help our residents make informed shopping choices when they fully consider the costs of managing the wastes they purchase.”

Bag tags will be sold through local retail outlets.