County councillors frustrated by garbage confusion

SIMCOE COUNTY – Mixed messages from Simcoe County on user-pay garbage tags and the general direction of the county’s waste management strategy aren’t sitting well with some county councillors.

Simcoe County’s solid waste management strategy includes a number of ways to cut back on solid waste going to landfills. The green-bin program was introduced in 2008, and council voted in February to switch to a full user-pay garbage pickup system that will see residents pay for garbage tags beginning in July 2012.

One of the next steps is cancelling bulky-item pickup for the nine member municipalities that receive the service.

County staff is looking at alternatives to increase diversion. A voucher system is also being considered. Some municipalities in the county already operate on similar systems, which see residents receive annual vouchers for the county’s waste management facilities.

Faced with the cancellation of bulky-item pickup, councillors aired frustration about the lack of communication with the public from the county on the user-pay system.

Bradford/West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White said there is mixed messaging.

A press release to help people understand the strategy noted the county is second out of 217 Ontario municipalities when it comes to diverting waste.

“That tells me we’re doing things right. So, do we really need drastic measures like user-pay, see-through bags, and some of the other things that are being considered?” said White. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re on the right track.”

Part of the problem with communication for Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough is that people don’t understand the county’s direction. He said garbage tags offer an opportunity to pay less for garbage pickup.

“I’m getting all kinds of question, comments and primarily complaints about it being a tax grab,” said Hough. “Nowhere does it emphasize enough that … there will be a reduction on the tax bill.”

At this point, county staff are unsure of what the exact savings will be.

Environmental services director Rob McCullough said it will be months until there will be financial data to present, as the county is in the process of renewing its contracts for waste collection.

However, when it comes to savings, White said the theory that people will pay less for the less garbage used is only partially true.

“We have odour-creating items that are not recyclable. Specifically, pet waste, diapers, the trays that meat are sold in – these things are not recyclable (in our jurisdiction),” said White.

“The person that puts out half a bag of trash is paying the same as the person that puts out a full bag of trash. The only way that doesn’t happen is if you take that half a bag and you store it in your garage for the second week.”

Changes to garbage collection won’t be implemented for more than a year. After all the details are ironed out, there will be public meetings.

“There’s going to be lots of education and public meetings as we move forward with the implementation of this user pay. It’s July of 2012,” said Warden Cal Patterson.