Environmental groups are worried about some of the cuts made by Regina city council.
Council approved an one year elimination of the household hazardous waste days and the leaf and yard waste depots.
The decision came as the city approved changes to their 2017 budget in order to make up for an over $10 million funding shortfall from the province.
Joanne Fedyk, executive director of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, said it’s concerning people might not be able to properly dispose the waste.
“Household hazardous waste are a very small part of the waste stream but that the same time, they are the most toxic part of the waste stream,” she said.
Fedyk added people now need to find alternative ways to dispose items like small propane tanks, fuels and mercury thermometers.
“Either putting it in the landfill, which can end up in the water table, or down the drain which is more directly into the water table.”
Regina Blue Dot Movement, a local environmental group and part of a national campaign, have been working with the city to help find ways to reduce the city’s environmental impact.
Organizer Kelly Husack said even before these programs were cut, the city was still behind other places in Canada.
“With these cuts taking place, I see them reverting back a bit in some way where we’re still trying to catch up.”
The program cuts are just a few of the decisions reached by city council on Tuesday.