THUNDER BAY – City households will be able have a third item of garbage picked up from their curb when the limit is reduced to two later this year, though that additional piece will come with a cost.
Thunder Bay city council on Monday approved a recommendation from administration to implement a bag tag system for waste collection that will allow a third garbage item to be collected in addition to the two free items if it has a $2 tag.
The tag system would be implemented alongside the reduction of the free curbside collection limit to two items, which was decided earlier this year during the budget process and will take effect on July 1. That cut will lead to one less truck being on the road and the elimination of two positions.
Jason Sherband, the city’s manager of solid waste and recycling services, told council it is believed the vast majority of households are already putting out two items or less on their weekly collection day and doesn’t expect a bag tag system to result in any substantial changes.
“Quite frankly, this is just an option,” Sherband said. “We’re not going to be out there promoting tags. It’s just an option for people.”
The report to council anticipated a “minimal amount” of tags being purchased and any revenue generated from the sale of tags would offset the costs of providing and administering the system.
The tags would be sold in packs of five for $10 and would be available at city hall, branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library, Victoriaville Civic Centre and EcoSuperior.
Sherband described the tags as an “adhesive sticker” that would be placed on the neck of the garbage bags
“Once that’s stuck on there, I don’t foresee that being an issue,” Sherband said, responding to a question about whether the tags could be stolen off bags. “Certainly it isn’t an issue in other jurisdictions that operate a tag system.”
The system also outlines a medical exemption for those with conditions that would result in excess waste. To be granted the exemption, people would have to apply every year with a doctor’s note.
As well, three times annually each household will be given a holiday exemption with one extra item permitted on the first collection day following New Year’s Day, Victoria Day and Labour Day.
Coun. Larry Hebert asked why administration didn’t recommend just handing out a number of free tags to be used as each household saw fit.
“If I’m a household that continually puts two and I’m given three bags, then I’m now giving them to my friends and neighbours who may be exceeding the limit and really then the program just doesn’t work,” Sherband said.
“Is it cleaner to just do a two-item limit and be done with it? Absolutely, but this gives people the option that if they need an additional item of garbage there’s a means to do that.”
An item of garbage constitutes the contents of one can as long is doesn’t exceed 18 kilograms, or one bag if it is placed loose on the curb.
Council voted almost unanimously in favour, with Coun. Joe Virdiramo representing the only dissenting voice.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson expressed concern the reduced limit, as well as residents having to pay to restore the third item, could lead to an increase in illegal dumping.
“Is this going to have a slight spike in illegal dumping in the short term? I don’t know the answer to that but we’ll find out,” Sherband said.
“If a person is illegally dumping waste today, whether it’s a three-item or two-item limit, they probably will always continue to illegally dump waste . . . There are some jurisdictions where they’ve seen a slight spike but it usually comes back down to historical levels. I don’t see it being a long-term issue.”
