'We are not asking if we are asking how': Mandatory composting coming to Saskatoon

Saskatoon city councillors say a mandatory composting program will be coming to the city.

A report on the subject presented to councillors on Tuesday morning stated that 32 per cent of what goesinto the landfillis either food or yard waste, and the best way to reduce that is through a mandatory compost program.

"We are not asking if. We are asking how," Councillor Mairin Loewen told the committee.

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The City of Saskatoon wants to divert 70 per cent of waste going into the landfill by 2023. If that doesn't happen, it's likely a new landfill would have to be developed, which could cost the city anywhere from $26 million to$100 million.

"We have to do something more significant in order to change our outcomes and reduce the material going to landfill," said Mayor Charlie Clark.

Currently, Saskatoon's voluntary green bin composting program costs $55 per year, and runs from May until November.

According to the report, most cities across Canada have mandatory composting programs, and Saskatoon is the only city with a paid subscription program for organic garbage.

We're worried about our taxes increasing, but waste is part of our taxes. Building a new landfill would be an even bigger part.- Sheri Praski, Environmental consultant

"The bottom line is not many people do it, and not many people do it right," said Sheri Praski, an environmental engineer and consultant who formerly oversaw the city's waste program.

Praski is on board with Saskatoon's new plan, and believes it could even go a step further; along with mandatory compliance, penalties may also be helpful to reach the city's goals.

"I would be very aggressive on targets and make sure there's lots of incentives there," said Praski.

"Most places are diverting more than us, and we need to help people get to that next level and understand how their choices impact the environment, but also their pocketbooks."

It's still not clear what the program would look like. Mayor Charlie Clark said the new system could potentially use bags instead of bins.

The new system could be in place as early as 2020.

User-pay garbage pickup

Councillors also talked about switching to a garbage utility model, where citizens would be charged based on how much trash they produce.

"A successful waste diversion program is critical to deferring the closure of the landfill," reads the report.

"A variable-rate utility would provide additional incentive for people to reduce the amount of waste they put in their black garbage cart, allow the city to build a sustainable funding model, and extend the life of the landfill."

If council agrees to move to a user-pay trash pickup system, costs are estimated at $11.85 a month for single-family households and $9.50 for multi-unit dwellings like condos and apartments.

Right now, a single family pays $3.71 per month on property tax towardwaste disposal.

The extra cost would comefrom the elimination of a subsidy currently paid by commercial taxes and additional costs to cover a $3 million shortfall facing the landfill.

"We're worried about our taxes increasing, but waste is part of our taxes," said Sheri Praski.

"Building a new landfill would be an even bigger part."

Council could agree on a flat rate or a hybrid option where some of the fee is still paid for through the mill rate.

According to the report, many cities across the country give homeowners choices of different-sized cartsand chargebased on the volume. In those cities, people who choose the smallest carts areeligible for deep discounts.

Charges could also be based on how frequently households put out their garbage cart.

Worries over illegal dumping

"People will just dump their garbage off and leave it for someone else to pick up," said Diane Bently, president of the Hudson Bay Park/Kelsey/Woodlawn/Mayfair community group.

She said she has seen it happen before.

"You can put your bin out in the evening and someone can come along from another neighbourhood and fill up your bin for you," she said.

The city report saysin the cities that implemented a waste utility, 48 per cent saw no change in illegal dumping.

Six per cent saw a decline, while 19 per cent of cities saw an increase.

Dig your own compost

Some homeowners in Diane Bentley's neighbourhood already compost, and wonder whether they will receive compost from the organic waste they send to the city for processing.

"If it goes to compost centres, the compost is produced, where does that go?" said Bentley, who would like to use fresh compost in her garden.

Thecity is considering a pilot program where citizens can dig up their own compost from city facilities free of charge.

The report said that the pilot program would significantly reduce costs and resources needed to run a program that sells compost. Right now, compost is sold to the public for $5 per 20 litre bag.

The proposed program would still charge for bulk sales of compost at a rate of $15 per cubic yard.

All of the decisions will need to be voted on by Saskatoon City Council.