County moving toward user-pay garbage system
By Kate Harries AWARE Simcoe February 23 2011
The new county council has decided to shift the cost of collection and disposal of garbage to a user-pay system, to be implemented in July 2012.
The plan will require residents to affix a garbage tag to every bag put out on the curb, replacing the present system that provides for a one-bag limit at no direct cost, with additional $2 bag tags.
A staff report notes that a full user pay system for garbage can be more equitable as residents pay for the garbage that they are actually producing. Under the existing system “residents that generate little garbage, are doing a good job of diverting waste are, in effect, subsidizing those that produce more garbage.”
“We’re sending a message that we’re serious about garbage,” Clearview Mayor Ken Ferguson told county councillors yesterday before they approved a recommendation from the corporate services committee he chairs user-pay for a full user-pay system.
But Penetanguishene Deputy Mayor Patrick Marion denounced the change as discriminatory against families and apartment dwellers. He predicted that it will lead to increased illegal dumping.
The change is intended to be revenue-neutral, reducing a waste levy of approximately $150 per household by about $80, the balance going to services like monitoring and education programs. The cost of the bag tags has been suggested at $2.
Details for implementation are to be considered by the waste management sub-committee, which has its first meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 1 p.m. in the council chambers of the Midhurst administration centre. The meeting is open to the public.
The change has to coincide with new collection contracts in July, 2012 so as to give successful bidders time to get the necessary equipment.
User-pay programs have been implemented in around 60 Ontario municipalities including Oxford County, Wellington County, City of Stratford, Northumberland County, Quinte, and the City of Belleville
A number of councillors, led by Springwater Deputy Mayor Dan McLean, also want to move quickly to a clear bag system so that collections staff can see if items that should be diverted (organic waste and recyclables) are improperly being sent to the dump.
This would result in a real reduction, McLean said. “Just going to user pay, all we’re doing is shifting money back and forth.”
Others, including Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough, were strongly opposed to clear bags. The staff report cited privacy concerns that would have to be addressed.
The Waste Management Strategy that was adopted by the previous council last year suggests considering clear bags in the fifth year of the 20-year plan.
That’s not soon enough for McLean who pushed for consideration of a pilot project. Ferguson urged “baby steps” in tackling an issue. He anticipates “push-back” from residents on user-pay, but he promised clear bags will be looked at within six months.
Some councillors took issue with Ferguson’s view that residents won’t support the change.
Midland Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp said the “push-back” factor may be over-estimated. He said residents he’s spoken to are supportive of addressing the garbage crisis. “t’s not a difficult sell. It’s rational, it’s a bold step forward for this county.”
Midland Mayor Gord McKay noted that it’s about changing society’s behaviour, expressing confidence that families will rise to the challenge. As for fears of illegal dumping, McKay pointed to a staff analysis that found no direct correlation between more restrictive limits curbside and the amount of illegal dumping. In 2008, when the green bin program and one bag limit was launched, the tonnages decreased from previous years.
The staff report states that the change will also address concerns of seasonal residents, who presently pay for year-round service through the levy. Instead, they would only be charged for the garbage they generate.
The staff report suggests looking at waste collection early in the week for highly seasonal areas, reducing the amount of time weekend garbage is left out, as well as smaller collection vehicles to provide service to the smaller roads in these areas, eliminating litter and animal problems at collection points that are presently used.
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