Homeowners face big jump in garbage-collection fee

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This article was published 04/03/2025 (209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new proposal calls for a sharp hike in the annual garbage fee charged to Winnipeg homes, beginning next month.

Some relief will be proposed, but it’s not clear how much.

A city report calls to implement a waste management fee that would cost each home $63.50 per quarter, or $254 per year, effective April 1, up from the current waste diversion fee of $93.

The late start would see that pro-rated to $190 for this year.

A matching hike would be charged to small commercial operations that request city garbage collection.

And the city would introduce a new multi-family garbage fee that will charge $127 per year per dwelling unit (pro-rated to $95.25 for this year).

However, the chairman of council’s water and waste committee said he will ask city council to reduce the fee before it reaches a final vote.

“There will be a motion to reduce those rates because it does mark a substantial increase. The fees have to reflect the cost for us to deal with all the solid waste in the City of Winnipeg,” said Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski).

Eadie did not reveal to what extent he will be asking council to lower the fees, noting he’s still working on a motion.

A city report notes the residential fee would reach $264 in 2026 and $274 in 2027, if not reduced.

Eadie said Winnipeg’s past practice of using property tax revenue to cover residential garbage collection costs was unusual and the fees would remove that need, switching to a utility model already used by many other cities.

The new notably higher fees are linked to a new solid waste rate structure that aims to eventually raise enough money to cover the full cost of all waste collection, without using property tax revenue.

Coun. Jeff Browaty, chairman of finance, said the proposed fee is quite high and could be especially tough for Winnipeggers to pay amid new tariffs and recent inflation.

“The cost of doing the collection is not free. The fact that it was absorbed in people’s property taxes in the past, (means) people didn’t appreciate what the cost of the actual service was.”–Jeff Browaty

“Considering everything that’s going on right now, nothing’s going to be affordable. Who knows what’s going to happen with the cost of imported items? The value of the Canadian dollar could plummet….

“It is definitely not a great time to be doing this. (However) the financial pressures the city is under are not insignificant,” said Browaty (North Kildonan).

The finance chairman said he believes council should consider cancelling its long-awaited curbside compost collection program to avoid tacking on another large fee for homeowners.

“I’d like to personally revisit the curbside organics process, because that’s another huge (fee)…. To me, right now, it’s not a priority,” said Browaty.

The city staff report notes the cost of organics collections, beyond acquiring green carts, is not factored into the current rates. A full collection program is slated to start in 2030.

Browaty said new waste management fee is “competitive” with what is charged in other Canadian cities.

“The cost of doing the collection is not free. The fact that it was absorbed in people’s property taxes in the past, (means) people didn’t appreciate what the cost of the actual service was,” he said.

Coun. Brian Mayes, a former chairman of water and waste, said the increase is substantial.

“It’s $160 per year (more) for (each) house. That’s (equivalent to) an eight per cent property tax increase…. That’s a big jump,” said Mayes (St. Vital).

The proposed flat fees also raise concerns about equity, since owners of homes with a wide range of values would all pay the same price, he said.

In an email, Mayor Scott Gillingham’s office said there are options to reduce the hike this year, though discussions are still underway.

Spokesman Colin Fast said the fee is relatively low.

“That’s one of the lowest solid waste fees of any major city in the country,” he wrote.

The staff proposal also calls to eliminate some user fees, such as charges for lost or damaged garbage cart replacements. And, if approved as is, it would provide free garbage collection service to city-owned community centres and arenas and some registered charities.

Any changes to the rates would require city council approval.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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