Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Compost pickup possible

Green program gives city cash for recycling initiatives

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 06/10/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

A new landfill levy could help Winnipeg pick up kitchen scraps and yard waste along with recyclables and trash, but the city would still need to find millions more to make curbside compost collection a reality.

By the end of this year, Winnipeg stands to receive $1.8 million in provincial funding under Manitoba's new Waste Reduction and Recycling Support program, which diverts new fees collected at garbage dumps to environmental programs at municipalities.

While the city has yet to decide precisely how to spend the cash, the new program could kick-start the creation of a curbside compost collection program, said Darryl Drohomerski, Winnipeg's solid waste manager.

Although politicians and public servants at city hall have spent years thinking about collecting organic household waste alongside recyclables and garbage, the cost of organic-waste collection -- likely $5 million to $7 million a year for all Winnipeg residences -- has served as a considerable roadblock to the new green initiative. Every year, the city struggles to preserve existing services funded by its operating budget, which now stands at $785.3 million.

The new provincial green program could provide the seed money for curbside compost collection, although the city would also need to create some form of user fee to cover the entire cost, mused Drohomerski, adding it's up to politicians to choose among several green priorities on the solid waste division's wish list.

"Curbside composting is one thing we've been talking about, but the money would have to come from somewhere," he said, adding other Canadian cities fund compost collection through user fees or surcharges embedded in their property taxes.

Along with the collection of organic waste, Winnipeg solid waste managers would also like to recycle sand and expand the city's blue-box program.

Winnipeg sends approximately 40,000 tonnes of sand to landfills every year. Based on Edmonton's experience, the city could reclaim 80 per cent of the grit collected from city streets or emptied out of used sandbags by washing the sand and reusing the heavier material, Drohomerski said. Only fine silt would return to landfills.

Drohomerski also said the small, blue boxes Winnipeg households put out could also be replaced by larger, mobile carts that could prevent families from having to fill three or four recycling bins.

Ultimately, city council will determine which new green programs to pursue, once politicians approve Brady Road Landfill tipping-fee increases that will see Winnipeg give the province $2.6 million under the new waste levy and receive $4.4 million back, based on a complex formula determined by the city's relative participation in municipal recycling programs.

On Tuesday, council's public works committee voted 2-1 against the fee increases, which would see the cost of dumping large loads increase by $10 per tonne and the fee for small loads rise to $10 for a half tonne from $5 for a full tonne.

Couns. Harry Lazarenko (Mynarski) and Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre) voted against the new levy, despite a warning from committee chairman Bill Clement (Charleswood) that Winnipeg will have to find some way to fund the new provincial program. Lazarenko said he believes Winnipeggers recycle enough as it is, while Smith said he feared the fee increase for small loads could increase illegal dumping.

City council's executive policy committee is expected to reverse their decision today. The plan still faces approval by council as a whole on June 24.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 10, 2009 B1

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.