Bigger garbage carts rejected

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(KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Supersized garbage carts are out, rolling recycling bins are in and curbside composting is on the back burner, thanks to the latest round of political decisions governing waste collection in Winnipeg.

On Tuesday, city council's public works committee dealt with a trio of waste-collection recommendations from the city's water and waste department, which has been asked to work more closely with politicians and the public as it makes significant changes to the way it deals with garbage, recyclables and organic waste.

A plan to replace 60-litre blue boxes with 240-litre rolling carts for recyclable material was approved unanimously. The water and waste department conducted public opinion polls about recycling options last fall.

However, a separate proposal to allow residents of northwest Winnipeg to swap their new rolling garbage carts for larger versions was rejected, while a plan to begin spring-and-fall yard-waste pickup in the same area passed despite criticism from environmental groups and councillors. They would prefer year-round collection of all organic waste citywide.

St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal is now repeating his call for the city to develop a comprehensive waste-reduction plan that encompasses garbage, recycling and organics, including kitchen scraps.

"Clearly, we're moving too quickly," said Vandal, who voted against seasonal yard-waste pickup as well as the larger garbage carts, which he called a "waste maximization" policy.

"We need to take a deep breath, step back and make sure our garbage process is consistent with our recycling policy and our composting policy and come forward with a plan that seeks to minimize waste."

The moves made by the public works committee still face approval from executive policy committee on Feb. 17 and city council as a whole on Feb. 24.

Mayor Sam Katz declined to comment on Tuesday's votes or on the city's overall waste-collection strategy. The mayor will make his thoughts public when executive policy committee deals with the issues next week, a spokesman said.

Water and waste director Barry MacBride said his department does have a long-term waste-reduction plan. However, the city has no choice but to deal quickly with collection issues when existing contracts run out.

Rolling carts replaced garbage cans in northwest Winnipeg this winter after a previous garbage-collection contract ended. The city revisited recycling because its existing collection contract for about 185,000 homes expires in September.

MacBride said he has no problem with Vandal's suggestion the city could do more with organics than pick up yard waste twice a year. Spring and fall collection in northwest Winnipeg is just a first step, he said.

"I accept the concern there could be more debate and discussion about this," he said. "We haven't ruled out anything with regards to organics. By taking one step in northwest Winnipeg, that doesn't rule out anything we could wind up doing citywide."

bartley.kives @freepress.mb.ca

Garbage day at city hall

Refuse-collection decisions made Tuesday by city council's public works committee -- and still subject to approval by executive policy committee next week and city council as a whole on Feb. 24:

Yes to recycling carts

In September, 60-litre blue boxes at about 185,000 homes will be replaced by 240-litre rolling blue bins similar to the new rolling garbage carts in northwest Winnipeg. The committee approved a 7.5-year, $35-million recycling-collection contract with National Waste Services.

The vote: Unanimous, although committee chairman Bill Clement (Charleswood) said he felt the cost was too high.

No to oversized bins

The committee kiboshed a water and waste department plan to allow northwest Winnipeg residents who feel their 240-litre garbage carts are too small to swap them for larger carts or get additional ones, in exchange for an annual fee.

The vote: 2-1, with Couns. Harry Lazarenko (Mynarski) and Dan Vandal (St. Boniface) shooting down the plan as promoting the generation of waste.

Yes to seasonal yard-waste plan

Starting this year, northwest Winnipeg residents served by 240-litre garbage carts will have their grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste picked up by the city for four weeks each spring and fall, provided homeowners use special compostable bags.

The vote: 2-1, with Clement and Lazarenko in favour, but Vandal opposed because he said the city should have a comprehensive waste-reduction plan.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 10, 2010 B1