WINNIPEG — When Melissa Sokil got home from work Friday she couldn’t get through her back lane.
“I think it’s the kids in the area to be honest,” she said, picking up garbage and recycling bins that has been scattered about. “It’s all of the time, so why would you want to add more headaches.”
The thought of the city wanting to add a third bin for composting isn’t sitting well with many residents including Sokil.
“I think it’s a complete waste of time and we pay enough as taxpayers,” said Sokil.
Transcona Councillor Russ Wyatt says he’s been getting a lot phone calls and emails from residents.
“Folks are upset, they see the existing program not working they’re already paying for that and you’re rolling out another system now and you haven’t even sorted out the one you started,” said Wyatt.
READ MORE: Winnipeg homeowners may soon pay new user fee
In a closed door meeting Thursday, councillors were briefed on the new organic waste program.
If it’s approved, residents would get green carts for food scraps and pet droppings, it would cost homeowners between $55 to $100 a year on top of the $56 already charged for garbage pick up.
“We’re trying to achieve diversion from the landfill,” St. Boniface councillor Matt Allard said. “The way we do things now we’re hurting the environment.”
Winnipeg is not the first to do this. In Toronto, residents are charged $343.60 for garbage, recycling and compost pickup. Last year, Vancouver started charging residents $176 for a large bin of compost, Calgary is rolling out the bins next year at a cost of $96 a year and in Saskatoon people pay $55 a year.
In Winnipeg, even if you compost on your own now you’d still be required to pay.
Wyatt calls it a hidden tax grab.
“This is a way to have a tax increase without having to stand up and say you’re having a tax increase.” Wyatt also accuses city administration of hiding important details of the program. “You obviously know the cost of the facility, the cost of the trucks and you know the cost of the carts but they refuse to tell us on all three, that’s outrageous.”
Public consultations begin next month.