City council approved phasing out its free garbage tag program during the 2023 budget talks, but one councillor hopes to get support from his colleagues to reverse the decision.
At the upcoming April 17 council meeting, Coun. Luke Leatherdale will ask council to reconsider its previous decision and maintain the free garbage tag program at previous levels.
“I would like to see the 20 tags remain in place that we mail out to everybody per year. I believe that's reasonable,” Leatherdale told OrilliaMatters.
Council’s budget-time decision saw the number of free tags reduced to 10 for 2023, with a full user pay system planned for the coming years. That means residents will not receive any garbage tags for free next year.
During budget deliberations, Leatherdale expressed concern about the decision.
“I got elected because I listen to people, and this is what I'm hearing: people don't want to go in this direction,” Leatherdale said.
Leatherdale cited the rising costs of living as a key reason to bring the motion forward.
“My primary focus is to not hurt people any more in a time when it seems like everything is going up in price,” he said. “We shouldn't be asking people to now pay for their own garbage tags.”
Leatherdale said he views garbage collection as an essential service, and said free garbage tags should not be cut in light of the city’s tax increase this year.
“We had a 2.79% tax increase this year, which is fairly good compared to surrounding municipalities, but it's still an increase and we shouldn't be taking away services,” he said. “Garbage collection is an essential service, and we shouldn't be reducing it any more.”
He also highlighted the success the city has already had with other waste diversion efforts.
“We've already enacted the clear bag program, which is a huge success and … has reduced waste going into the landfill by 38 per cent,” he said. “We're doing a really good job in this city as it is. I think we need to stop at the 20 tags — any further reduction, at this point, is just going to hurt people.”
In order to pass a reconsideration motion, Leatherdale will have to receive support from two-thirds council to bring the decision back to the table, which he said he is confident he will be able to achieve.
