By Tom Jackson, special to the News

By the time you read this, council will probably have made a decision on the waste collection contract governing our city for the next seven years. Regardless of the majority vote, here’s the option that I supported and why. The four factors that contributed to my decision are as follows:
• Maintaining existing service levels;
• Waste diversion;
• Potential savings;
• Illegal dumping.
Having weighed these factors simultaneously, I have put my support behind Option 3, which is maintaining the weekly collection of waste with enhancements. I will not be voting for biweekly pick-up.
Here are the benefits of Option 3. Firstly, we need to simplify waste collection and calendars for our citizens. Too many changes too soon have led to confusion and frustration. Option 3 maintains weekly pick-up and adds a second bag for residents to put out without penalty. This will alleviate keeping animal feces and diapers around the home for two weeks, which would have occurred under the biweekly option.
Secondly, Option 3 maintains weekly blue box pick-up and provides weekly leaf and yard pick-up all year, instead of just using a seasonal plan. Green carts can still be used for grass clippings and organics. Also, weekly or biweekly bulk pick-up will be available year-round. A number of landlords have expressed real concern that a biweekly system could exacerbate the bed bug issue in their buildings. Hence, all of the above arguments for Option 3 address the issue of maintaining existing service levels, with enhancements.
The waste diversion rate of 49 per cent would be maintained under my preferred option. If some did not need to put out a second bag, the 49 per cent could be improved. Whereas the biweekly option estimates that the diversion rate would only increase by 5 per cent. With this in mind, and with the increase in illegal dumping over the last two years, the biweekly option is not a risk that I’m willing to take. Under the enhanced weekly plan, the Glanbrook landfill site would have approximately 28 more years before capacity.
The enhanced weekly option saves taxpayers approximately $2.3 million per year, multiplied by seven years, over and above the contract that’s expiring in 2013. That’s tremendous news on the tax front. Within this planned savings, a “bag tag” system is incorporated, too. This system would allow families who need more than two bags per week to purchase tags for $2 each. Some aspect of a minimum voucher system could also be implemented for dropping off extra household waste at the recycling centres.
Finally, in my opinion, the damage that illegal dumping has done to our city’s image, cleanliness and extra financial costs, will be addressed, targeted and ultimately reduced under the enhanced weekly option.
Tom Jackson is councillor for Ward 6 (east Mountain). Columns from councillors representing the Mountain’s three wards appear monthly on a rotating basis.
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