Pay for your waste: Regina garbage collection to change

How your garbage is collected and how much it costs you could be changing soon in Regina.

City administration plans to put a proposal before city council later this year, suggesting residents pay for how much garbage they have — a smaller bin costing less than a large one.

It’s the administration’s hope this change will extend the life of the landfill and get residents to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Currently, residents pay for curbside recycling services through a monthly fee on utility “water” bills. This fee would be eliminated.

Instead, curbside garbage collection will be based on the size of garbage bin the resident requires and will be billed through a monthly fee on the city’s utility bills. Exactly how much residents will have to pay has not yet been determined.

Since 2011, council adopted a plan to divert 65 per cent of resident waste by 2020. It said these two measures will help reach that goal.

“We thank our residents for their efforts to properly dispose of their household waste. The success of the city’s waste management programs and services depends on the participation and support of our residents,” says Lisa Legault, Director of Solid Waste, in a news release.

“The diversion rate reflects our current policies and services and no substantial increase can be achieved until new diversion initiatives are implemented.”

Bi-weekly winter garbage collection could become permanent

City administration is also recommending bi-weekly garbage pick-up in the winter months become permanent.

The city tested the twice-a-month garbage collection schedule from last November to  March, with an additional week added during Christmas.

It’s believed the majority of residents support such a move. The city solicited feedback and of the 12,000 residents that completed a survey, 61 per cent agreed with bi-weekly garbage collection.

The administration’s also recommending any household that requires a second garbage bin pay an annual fee for that option.

The changes are subject to council approval but will be discussed at a committee meeting on June 7.