Regulation on the pricing of garbage bags delayed

City Council has formally voted in favour of postponing the implementation date of its waste reduction rate incentive system to September 15.

Meeting in a preparatory caucus on the evening of July 2, they considered it favourable to offer a two-month stay to citizens, the bylaw having been scheduled to come into force on July 15.

It should be recalled that when this measure, which is part of the city’s waste management plan (PGMR 2016-2020), comes into effect, each household will be allowed to fill, for each collection, a single 120-litre grey bin, distributed by the city. A maximum of five eligible priced bags per collection will also be allowed.

Only 120-litre grey bins distributed by the City will be permitted and collected free of charge; any excess material must be placed in separate bags purchased for 50¢ each.

The city’s original plan was to sell the bags for $1 or $2 each, with the implementation of certain exceptions for large families and people with special health needs.

This course of action proved impossible because of a Quebec law prohibiting accommodations for more vulnerable households. According to the law, waste pricing is permitted, but the modification of tariffs according to households is impossible, to avoid legal double standards.

The compromise of a lower price for bags was therefore decided and the rate for the cost of landfilling per bag was also removed.

Citizens will have to travel to get bags and the number of places where they will be available will also be limited. Packages of five bags will be available for purchase at service centres and eco-centres throughout the city. 

It will also be possible to order bags online, but with the addition of shipping costs, the price per unit will triple to $1.50 per bag.

The objective of this new bylaw is to reduce the city’s landfill and ecological footprint by implementing this system of “overusers pay”.