Toronto water, garbage rates going up for 2017

Torontonians will pay more for water and garbage pickup in the new year, after city council approved two increases at its final meeting of the year.

Council approved a five per cent hike to the water budget, meaning the average water bill will climb from $914 in 2016 to $960 in 2017.

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The city uses 325 million cubic metres of water every year roughly the equivalent of 130,000 Olympic swimming pools. Water consumption rates continued to decline in 2016, a staff report notes, despite an increasing population.

Low-income seniors and low-income people with disabilitiesare still eligible for a 30 per cent discount. Some 5,000 people relied on this service last year.

Another five per cent increase is planned for next year.

Garbage rates, meanwhile, are going up two per cent, even though city staff had recommended an increase of over five per cent.

City council also nixed a recommendation to charge $23 for people who are exchanging their waste bins for different sizes.