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Councillor calls for mandatory garbage cans

City councillor says proposal would address animal, mess concerns.
Garbage
A Thunder Bay city councillor is seeking a report on a mandatory garbage container policy. (File photo)

THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay city councillor is looking to put a lid on residential garbage concerns by requiring residents to use solid bins.

Coun. Aldo Ruberto said his call for a report on the option, which will be debated on Monday at council, stemmed from concerns over animals and mess from garbage stored only in plastic bags.

“It gets to be garbage everywhere,” he said. “We have rat issues in some areas. I don’t understand why everybody can’t have at least one garbage can.”

Residents can currently put out two items a week in “durable plastic/metal garbage cans with handles and secure lids… or 1.5 millimetre thick black or green garbage bags, securely closed,” according to the city’s website.

The maximum weight per item is 40 pounds. Residents can also purchase two dollar tags for a third item, with a limit of one per week.

Ruberto’s motion could dovetail – or conflict – with other municipal plans for waste management. As it works to meet a provincial requirement to develop a green bin food program by 2025, the city is considering introducing an automated curbside waste pickup system, using trucks fitted with extendable arms.

Food waste makes up an estimated 40 to 45 per cent of the city's waste stream.

Ruberto’s motion, if passed on Monday, would require a report back from city staff by the end of March of 2022.




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