Multi-family waste diversion fee re-enters council conversation

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This article was published 04/07/2023 (1136 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Residents of multi-family apartment and condo buildings could face a new user fee for garbage collection, after a similar levy was trashed.

On Wednesday, Winnipeg city council’s executive policy committee will consider a call to support a new multi-family waste diversion and management strategy. If approved, officials will return sometime later this year to seek council approval to add the fee of a so-far unknown amount.

“The water and waste department annually projects a deficit for waste diversion, since the city continues to provide recycling and diversion services to a growing multi-family sector without any associated cost-recovery measures,” Michael Gordichuk, manager of solid waste services, wrote in a public service report.

The multi-family waste diversion fee has proven controversial in the past. In 2021, council opted not to act on a proposed levy of $44 per unit, which would have started this year and raised an estimated $4.25 million in 2023.

At the time, the deficit for recycling and waste diversion was projected to hit $1.1 million in 2022, and $1.9 million in 2023.

The department argued the revenue would offer an equitable way to cover recycling costs, since single-family homeowners already paid $66 per year for those services. (That’s since risen to $69.46/year.)

However, the idea triggered backlash when some residents argued it unfairly burdened renters.

One renter said she’s concerned about the potential return of the charge.

“It assumes that renters and homeowners are on the same footing, but homeowners are paying for an asset that appreciates over time, whereas renters don’t have that and renters are disproportionately more low income,” said Shannon Furness. “There’s a cost burden that I think is ignored or neglected in considering that.”

Furness said homeowners and renters also receive different levels of garbage collection service. At a past apartment, her unit shared one set of large garbage and recycling bins with about 14 others, while single-family homes receive curbside pickups.

Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the water and waste committee, noted the fee itself won’t be considered by council right away.

This time around, it’s not immediately clear how councillors would vote on the idea.

Mayes said he still prefers to see property tax revenues cover garbage and recycling services, but believes other options may need to be considered.

“My inclination would be still to try and do it through property taxes but… the mayor ran on a pretty specific proposal on property taxes… If our position on property tax is locked in for the next several years, than we have to be prepared to look at other revenue sources,” he said Tuesday.

Mayor Scott Gillingham campaigned on a promise to raise property taxes by 3.5 per cent annually between 2023 and 2026.

Mayes said he still believes property tax funding helps ensure residents pay closer to what they can afford for garbage collection, since those with more expensive homes tend to pay higher taxes.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy believes using property tax revenue to pay for the service remains the best option. “Then everyone’s contributing and it’s based on your property taxes… based on your ability to pay, in most cases.”

The report notes multi-family dwellings are the fastest-growing housing type in Winnipeg.

The city currently provides waste collection at roughly 2,000 multi-family properties with more than 80,000 dwellings, though multi-family building owners can choose private providers.

If council approves the latest strategy, the city will hire a waste diversion specialist to help put it in place.

The report stresses increasing the amount of waste residents of multi-family dwellings divert from the landfill is one of the strategy’s key goals. As of 2021, such homes had an average waste diversion rate of 15 per cent, compared to 35 per cent for single-family homes.

The new strategy aims to increase the diversion rate largely through an education campaign. It also suggests new design guidelines could make recycling more convenient for residents at future buildings, while the city could explore some form of incentive for sustainable waste management in the future.

Water and waste officials did not provide more detail on those measures by deadline Tuesday. A spokesperson suggested more information would be provided Wednesday.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga