Black cart size options and proposed curbside residential garbage utility fees to be presented to committee
The City Administration will next week present a plan designed to give households more choice on what they pay for garbage collection. On Tuesday, September 5, Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services (EU&CS) will hear details on cart size options, timelines and proposed rates for the garbage utility in 2024.
As previously directed by Council, the funding source for black cart garbage services will shift from property taxes to a utility model in 2024. Three different black cart sizes will be available to eligible households with curbside collection.
“Our aim is to offer residents a range of cart sizes that align with the waste requirements of their households,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “With the success of the Green Cart Program, there is less waste in the black carts. The variable utility model means that households will have more control over their costs and only pay for the waste they actually produce.”
The cart sizes include the current large (360L) as well as a medium (240L) and a small (120L – 135L) black cart. Requests to change cart size will be accepted beginning in January 2024 with smaller black cart deliveries expected in the spring. There will be no fee for a household’s initial cart swap to allow residents sufficient time to right-size their carts.
A fixed utility rate of approximately $9.92 per month will be in place for all residents with curbside garbage collection until cart swaps are completed. The variable utility fees will not be implemented until mid-year following cart swaps. The proposed monthly utility rates for black cart services are approximately as follows: small (120 L – 135L) cart - $3.73, medium (240 L) - $7.05 and large (360 L) - $10.58 and can be seen here. A process for property managers and condo boards to manage bulk requests is being developed.
If Administration's recommendations are endorsed by Committee, they will be formally approved by City Council at its meeting on September 27.
The variable cart options will increase residents’ control over their costs and encourages reduction of waste by providing financial incentives for waste diversion. Communities that use similar approaches have seen their waste diversion rates increase by 5-17%, as residents improve their use of diversion programs and find new ways to reduce their general waste generation.
Program details for the $100 per year low-income Waste Utility Subsidy will also be included in a separate report presented at EU&CS.
Garbage collection will remain bi-weekly year-round. To view your collection calendar, visit saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or download the Saskatoon Waste Wizard app.