City organics collection comes with $9.2M pricetag

Saskatoon’s curbside organics program is still four years away, but city staff are beginning to provide a clearer picture of how much it will cost taxpayers.

A city report submitted to city council’s environment, utilities and corporate services committee on Monday details that the new green bin pickup will cost $9.2 million annually to operate.

The report notes $3.96 million of those costs will be recouped by savings — specifically through ending the current subscription green cart program, and moving waste collection to a bi-weekly schedule year-round.

However, the city is also noting the need to fill a persistent waste management funding gap at the cost of $3.36 million.

City council voted in March to slowly phase in funding for the organics program, which would impact property taxes with a one-per-cent increase for three years, with a 0.93-per-cent increase following in 2023 — the year the green bins would be rolled out and collection would begin.

Mayor Charlie Clark, speaking on Gormley’s City Hall Hotline on Tuesday, said the phased-in funding is meant to lessen the blow for taxpayers.

“We’re trying to fix some outstanding problems,” he said, referring to the past funding shortfall for the waste management program.

He added the goal of the green bin program would be to divert waste away from the landfill, thus delaying the need for a new one at the estimated cost of $120 million.

City reports have noted Saskatoon currently has one of the lowest waste diversion rates among cities in Canada, standing at 23 per cent. Numbers from city staffers suggest 58 per cent of what currently ends up in black bin garbage could go into the future green bins.

The items eligible for organics collection include food waste and yard clippings.

“If you look in your garbage bag right now … the thing that’s giving it weight is kitchen waste,” Clark said.

“(We want) to get that material out of the landfill. That material can be composted and reused, whether it’s for energy or for compostable materials to sell back into the market.”

While some city councillors have inquired about an opt-out for people using backyard composters, city staff say the logistics of allowing some homes to return their green bins and receive a property tax break could be difficult.

The latest report notes that while provincial law does allow for exemptions of certain property tax portions for residents, it was never intended as a way for homeowners to opt out of a citywide program.

The report goes to city council for review on May 27.