Green waste pickup will be coming to Peterborough curbsides in the near future after city council approved the plan at a special general meeting held on Monday night.
Funding from the province was made available through a municipal Green House Gas Challenge fund grant that will see the city receive more than $7.4 million to go towards the $15-million green waste diversion project.
Council had to act quickly and pass a report Monday to qualify for the grant money as there was a tight window for acceptance into the program.
“Getting curbside organic pickup is good for all of us,” said Town Ward Coun. Dean Pappas. “It’s going to save us money at the landfill because we’re getting organics out of there and we’ll be extending the life of our landfill as well.”
Staff suggests diverting green waste from the city’s landfill will help extend the life of the site, which staff warns is already nearing capacity. The city was informed late last week that they were awarded the grant money and were told they had to sign the agreement with the province to transfer the funds by March 3, 2018.
The city will partner with Triland Excavation and Hauling to process the organic material, while they will also launch a comprehensive public education campaign to highlight what materials can be composted.
The city will also be distributing green waste bins and kitchen catchers to every home while they will also need to partner with Triland to build a processing facility as well.
It’s expected green waste pickup will begin in September 2019.
Following approval of green waste pickup, director of planning and development services Jeffrey Humble updated council on the status of the city’s official plan — a document that will help guide the growth of the city until 2041 when the city’s population is expected to grow by more than 31,000 people.
The challenge, staff says, is that more funding is needed to complete the overdue project.
“We want a great product and we think we’re going to get one,” said Humble. “We think this will be what we need to make this product, high quality and one that council will be proud of while giving us the direction into the future development of the city.”
Work on the official plan goes back to 2011.
Last year an additional $300,000 was approved to help get it finished.
City staff are looking for an additional $122,000 to hire a consultant to do a comprehensive telephone survey, along with hiring a firm to complete the architectural and urban design plans.
Coun. Dan McWilliams was concerned about the extra funds.
“Is there anything you’ve got, like a safety net or something that knows that I’m not going to get another request a month down the road for another $122,000 or $100,000.”
Staff assured council it would not require any more money.
It’s expected the official plan will be tabled at council in the fall of 2019.