CITY RECOMMENDS $2.50 PER UNIT FOR MULTI-UNIT RECYCLING PROGRAM

The City is proposing a city-wide multi-unit residential recycling program, which if approved by Council will start in late 2014.

A report submitted to the February 24, 2014 Public Executive Committee meeting includes a recommendation for a cost of $2.50 per unit per month for the proposed city-wide multi-unit recycling program.  Results from recent public consultations and the independent review of the Cosmopolitan Industries business plan for the program are also included in the report. 

“We heard loud and clear from our stakeholders that we needed to keep the cost as low as possible, and we managed to determine a funding structure that would allow us to do just that,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of the Transportation & Utilities Division. “We believe this rate structure is reasonable and reflects the market value of the service to be provided.”

Between September 30 and October 18, 2013, the City received feedback from 192 stakeholders. And while price was a concern for many, very few were opposed to the overall concept of a recycling requirement for multi-unit residential buildings.

“We recognize that there is no single solution for recycling in multi-unit properties and to achieve success towards the City’s recycling goals, the program will require a high degree of customization,” says Jorgenson.  “But our focus has always been on providing a service that is convenient for residents by allowing that all recyclable materials can be placed in the same cart.”

The City chose to pursue the contract with Cosmopolitan Industries in an effort to allow the organization to continue to provide meaningful employment and vocational opportunities for participants in their programs.

If Executive Committee accepts the report, it will be presented to City Council at its meeting on March 3, 2014 for final approval. 

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