Council has agreed to change the way the city deals with waste.
The 10-year, $10-million Solid Waste Management Strategy was approved in principle Monday night during a regular scheduled council meeting at city hall. The guiding document promises to overhaul the waste system and divert more waste away from the city's landfill.
Waste diversion and recycling co-ordinator Jason Sherban told council that the current system relies on tipping fees to cover costs.
That means telling the public to divert waste and conserve more takes revenue out of the system for capital projects.
He also warned council that if something isn't done soon, the landfill will need to be expanded soon, a project that would come with a $10-million price tag.
"In essence if we do nothing we're going to have to start spending that money now anyway,” Coun. Andrew Foulds said.
The first phase of the plan would bring the city's diversion rate to 44 per cent, still under the 60 per cent expected to be provincially legislated in the future.
A second phase of the plan would bring it up to 68 per cent.
Everything in the plan would still require council's approval over the coming years and an annual report is expected.
