'That's really dumb': Mixed reaction to user-pay garbage changes in Saskatoon

Saskatoon residents have expressed mixed feelings over a plan to make users pay for the garbage they create.

Councillors on the committee overseeing waste management voted unanimously on Monday to ask administration to investigate a new business model for waste services that includes a waste utility. A further report is due in August.

• City of Saskatoon says compost, cardboard boxes filling up landfill

• Saskatoon to spend $1.2 M on garbage tracking system

"I think that's really dumb of them," said Saskatoon resident Ben Foreman.

He said he would prefer to see the city stick with a garbage collection system funded by property taxes. 

Spending more on garbage collection

Foreman said his household fills one bin of garbage each month. He said his parents' bin is full every week. 

Each man, woman and child living in Saskatoon produced an estimated 239 kilograms of garbage last year, according to a report by waste management officials. 

"If you have a bigger family you're going to have to spend more money on garbage," Foreman said. "Keep it the same."

The report warned residents may see higher costs if garbage collection is no longer being subsidized by commercial property taxpayers.

Concerns over illegal dumping

"I guess I can agree in some ways because I know the landfills around here get used a lot," said Nicole Paskemin, another Saskatoon resident. "It's understandable to control all the waste."

Officials also noted some municipalities have dealt with concerns over litter and illegal dumping after moving to user-pay garbage collection systems.

"A surcharge specific to environmental compliance can be included as part of the utility charge," the report noted.

It also said city staff spend considerable time cleaning up Saskatoon's four unstaffed recycling depots, where "illegal dumping is often a problem."

Saskatoon, Regina rank last among Canadian cities in recycling, composting rates

Officials are now trying to work out when and how Saskatoon's waste utility will start charging residents for the garbage they produce. 

Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said his city can do far better on recycling and compost programs to avoid burdening future citizens with the cost of building a multi-million dollar second landfill. 

"When we went to the single bins from those large communal bins that people were putting toilets and deer carcasses and mattresses in, and we went to the individual bins, that was challenging," Clark said.

"We are moving in the right direction."

City of Saskatoon says landfill filling quickly, not environmentally sustainable

Currently the city has no compost programs or mandatory recycling for industrial or commercial landfill users. Studies show nearly half of the waste they generate could be composted or recycled. 

Clarence Wiegers moved from Humboldt to Saskatoon a year ago and said he's accustomed to paying for garbage collection.

"You pay a buck fifty per bag," said Wiegers.. "People recycle really, really good [in Humboldt]."

Waste diversion rates among Canadian cities:

• Surrey: 68 per cent
• Halifax:  61 per cent
• Toronto: 53 per cent
• Edmonton: 51 per cent
• Ottawa: 45 per cent
• Winnipeg: 34 per cent
• Calgary: 28 per cent
• Saskatoon: 21 per cent
• Regina: 19 per cent

Source: City of Saskatoon