New county collection calls for leaves in containers

By DOUGLAS GLYNN Midland Free Press November 1, 2012 

Midland council has been asked to continue the practice of vacuuming leaves even though Simcoe County is scheduled to begin county-wide leaf collection in 2013.

Currently, Midland residents can put leaves in paper yard-waste bags, rigid open-top containers or rake them to the edge of the curb to be vacuumed.

Beginning April 1, 2013, a county-wide service will be implemented to provide bi-weekly leaf and yard waste collection four times in the spring and five times in the fall.

County staff told citizens at a public meeting last week that the county service will provide the option of putting leaves in paper yard-waste bags, other compostable bags, cardboard boxes, or open-topped rigid containers.

Rob McCullough, the county’s director of solid waste management, explained the changes that will be taking place in 2013 with the county-wide regular waste collection (garbage, recycling, organics), the expanded yard waste collection (including leaves) and a new call-in bulky item pickup service.

He said leaves are accepted free at landfills. They can also be composted, he added.

A majority of the 75 people attending the information session said they want the town to continue offering the current leaf vacuuming service.

McCullough explained that the county is the legislated authority for residential solid waste collection and said Midland would likely need county council’s approval to continue leaf collection.

Mayor Gordon McKay and Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp, the town’s county council members, said they will ask the county if the town can continue leaf collection.

Coun. Glenn Canning encouraged people to write the county supporting the request.

“I’ve said I don’t like the bag system,” Canning said. “It is a decrease in service levels. It shifts the tax paid system to a user-pay system.”

However, he pointed out, the county has the right to say no (to the town’s request).

Councillors Bob Jeffery and Zena Pendlebury both said a “one size fits all” leaf pickup does not work for all municipalities. Jeffery wants the county to allocate funds to each of the 16 member municipalities to carry out the fall leaf cleanup as they see fit.

McKay and Kramp were both criticized for supporting the change, but pointed out they voted in favour of the new seven-year waste contract because it will save the county $2.1 million a year.

They say it will help reduce a portion of the county taxes paid by residents.

“What is it about Midland that we need two services?” McKay asked.

“It costs $18 to $20 per household — $137,000 a year to suck leaves,” he noted.

He has said the town will see a savings of about $100,000 (the county says the cost per household for nine collections a year will be only $5.68).

“We can ask to opt out (of the county service),” McKay said, “but how can we do that in a way that makes economic sense? We want to hear from you. We are not insensitive, but we have to look at taxes.”

One resident suggested the town offer a user-pay service to those who want their leaves vacuumed.

Kramp said he is willing to go back to county council “and say we want an additional service. We could have a hybrid system. Why would the county care if we provide a higher level of service?”

Council is expected to deal with the issue at a future meeting.