Sicamous council is taking another kick at the curbside can with a new offer on the table for mandatory garbage collection.
The district will be mailing out a survey only to potentially affected properties (mobile home parks and single family residences, excluding stratas) that offers residents an opportunity to comment on a new proposal for mandatory garbage and recyclable collection service.
The initial proposal wasn’t well received at a public information meeting, and was subsequently rejected by council. It would have cost $11.07 per month, and included pick up of one bag of garbage a week plus unlimited recyclables every second week. With the new program, the district would provide pick-up of one bag of garbage a month, plus unlimited recycling every second week, for $8 a month. Additional bags of garbage would require $2 tags.
“What we had heard was a large amount of people were saying we only have one bag a month so, rather than working from the top down, we’re working from the bottom up, and this is the minimum that we could do to try to satisfy everyone,” said Mayor Malcolm MacLeod at the Jan. 26 committee of the whole meeting. MacLeod’s explanation was in response to concerns by Coun. Fred Busch, that with the new proposal, the district is decreasing service by 23 per cent but keeping the cost at 73 per cent of the original plan.
“I think if you’re going to try to sell this at $8 for a greatly reduced service, that’s going to be a hard sell,” said Busch. “I would much rather pay the $11.07, which was the original proposal.”
But MacLeod argued that sometimes people are willing to pay more for less.
“It’s the same way as Coca-Cola – people had said they don’t want a full can of pop, and they’ll pay a dollar for a full can,” said MacLeod. “Coca-Cola came out with half the size and charged them 75 cents. It’s the same thing, and yet it’s very popular, because that’s all they want.”
Among the details in the survey, it’s noted that the fee would increase annually. The increase would be the greater figure between the rise in the consumer price index or a maximum of two per cent. The survey also states that the Columbia Shuswap Regional District is reviewing landfill tipping fees and increasing the minimum tipping fee charge to $10.
“If that is going to happen, I think there is going to be a marked increase in illegal dumping, because you really are penalizing those people who live outside of the municipality,” cautioned Busch. MacLeod, however, said this is a good deal as the cost would cover at least seven bags worth of garbage. Garbage in bags would still be subject to the $2 per bag charge, although there’s talk of that fee being increased as well.
“The concern that staff have is that the minimum fee is arbitrarily too low because of the number of bags you can put in there,” commented district administrator Alan Harris. “It’s not encouraging recycling. You just throw it in and it costs you five bucks. You get seven bags for five bucks. Still it’s not at the $14, which should be the minimum rate…”
MacLeod gave thanks to the concerned citizen who had sent out a mailout of his own regarding the program. About 60 of these, in opposition to a curbside program, were returned to the district.
“We were elected to do the best we can for the community, so we’re doing this, we’re going to put it out there, and I really hope that everyone responds. And we’re going to have an area for comments,” said MacLeod. “Council will discuss it and if the feeling is no, then that’s it…”
The draft of the survey council was commenting on also noted residents within commercial, recreation and farm businesses would be included in the program But Couns. Heidi DeWit and Lynn Miller pushed for their removal.
“You’re kicking yourself in the foot if you’re asking me,” said Miller.