Launch of organics pickup, processing could initially cost Saskatoon taxpayers $9M

The city-wide curbside organics program city council recently approved to launch in 2023 could cost Saskatoon taxpayers $9.2 million up front, according to a new report.

Large-scale organics processing at a facility would also be covered under that start-up cost.

The city is hopeful that, once operational, the program which is meant to divert waste from Saskatoon's landfill will save the city nearly $4 million.

Given those savings, the city says only $5,280,000 in "new" money is required to fund the program.

• Here's how the city breaks down the cost.

The city has time to save up. The program will only launch in 2023, far behind the originally-envisioned 2020 launch that got scuppered following debate over how to fund the program.

City councillors ultimately decided that instead of funding it via user fees the city's preference the program would be bankrolled via property taxes.

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Opt-out not optimal

Some city councillors also wondered whether the city couldn't allow people to opt out of the new city-wide organics.

The city now says that's neither ideal (it would require some staff resources) nor standard (few other cities with property-tax-funded organics do it).

City councillors also wondered whether money could be saved by reducing organics pickup service in the winter. It can, by $230,000 a year, by only collecting organics every four weeks instead of the usual two from November to March, according to the city.

City councillors will talk about the city's findings Monday morning at city hall.