In a short-sighted move, Hamilton City Council is granting  homeowners 12 more amnesty days  so they can put out up to three containers, instead of one,  for waste pickup.
The additional amnesty days would begin in April for one year until the city begins its new waste collection contract April 1, 2013.
In a huge understatement, one of the few dissenters, Glanbrook Coun. Brenda Johnson commented, “I think we are going backwards.”
Rather than loosening the reins of its waste diversion  policies, Hamilton needs to tighten them.
Councillors in favour of adding more amnesty days argued they were needed to  reduce the illegal dumping that is plaguing much of the the city.
But there is little statistical evidence to back up their claims that the one bag limit adopted in April  2010 is contributing to the illegal dumping problem. Councillors only have observational and anecdotal evidence to support that argument.
Illegal dumping has long been a problem in the city and much of the illicit waste is tires, appliances and couches — items that don’t fit into a household garbage bag or container.
Staff proposed a crackdown on illegal dumping through an 18-month pilot program, which included hiring eight new enforcement officials, buying three unmarked vans and installing spy cameras to catch violators in action.
However, councillors balked at the program’s $990,000 price tag and opted for the additional amnesty days.
While the extra amnesty days may reduce some litter problems, it is unlikely to curb the illegal dumping of large bulk items.
More importantly, the move hinders any chance Hamilton has of improving its woeful 49 per cent residential waste diversion rate. The current rate is a far cry from the 65 per cent target originally set for 2008, then reset for 2011. The diversion goal was set to extend the lifespan of the Glanbrook landfill site, which has about 24 years of space left.
If councillors believe the spy camera enforcement pilot program is too expensive, wait until they view the preliminary costs for finding  and building a new dump.
Hamilton councillors should be doing everything possible to get back on track towards the 65 per cent waste diversion target.
There are less expensive ways to curtail illegal dumping without weakening the city’s waste diversion efforts.
First, they should publicize the current bulk pickup policy better. How many people know they can have an old sofa or appliance picked up by  calling the city?
Next, they should revisit the $8.50 per 100kg  tipping fee to determine whether it is  contributing to the illegal dumping problem.
It’s not too late for councillors to have a change of heart.
Next week, the public work’s committee is pondering a move to biweekly pickup as part of its new waste collection contract beginning April 1, 2013.
However, they are currently considering allowing up to six waste containers as part of the biweekly schedule.
That would be the equivalent of up to three containers for a weekly pickup and represent another giant step backwards.
When it comes to waste diversion, city council is clearly headed in the wrong direction.