SASKATOON – The City of Saskatoon has unveiled its proposal for a multi-unit residential recycling program.
Under the proposal, apartment and condo dwellers would pay a $2.50 monthly fee for recycling, which if approved would start in late 2014.
The cost of the program was a concern for many of the 192 stakeholders who sent feedback to the city after it was suggested they pay the same as the $4.66 paid monthly by homeowners.
“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.
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“We believe this rate structure is reasonable and reflects the market value of the service to be provided.”
If approved by city council, the revenue shortfall could be $200,000 in 2013 and an estimated $635,000 by 2015.
Administration officials say the gap could be shouldered by the entire tax base in the first year and hope future shortfalls will come from the provincial government’s new multi-material recycling program.
“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,” Jorgenson said.
“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 report heads to the executive committee and if approved, will go to city council on March 3.
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