| Green-bin pilot hits red light |
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| Wednesday, 13 January 2010 12:47 |
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By PATRICK MALONEY, THE LONDON FREE PRESS Green bins could be a no-go in London this year after politicians last night recommended putting off a pilot project for the composting program until 2011. If full city council goes for the recommendation, the issue would be left to the next city council to deal with next year. Though this year's proposed pilot, taking in 750 homes, would cost only $100,000, concerns about the $5.5-million annual cost of the kitchen-waste reycling program's eventual citywide rollout divided council's environment and transportation committee. "Initially there's a lot of support, but once (people) find out what the cost is, that support quickly evaporates," Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen said, noting the $5.5 million equals more than a 1% tax hike. "We want to do what's best for the environment, but we want to do it wisely." Besides costs, concerns over the capacity of Ontario's composting facilities were raised by some committee members who supported deferral -- Van Meerbergen, Roger Caranci, Cheryl Miller and Bud Polhill. Coun. Nancy Branscombe and Paul Hubert voted against putting off the plan. The issues goes next week to full council. For Hubert, another delay -- a green-bin plan was also shot down last year -- would reflect badly on the city. "There's an opportunity for us to be complacent here -- to say, 'Oh, we've got 14 years of landfill (space left)," he said. "My concern is if we don't move forward, we're (never) going to move forward." Also part of the green-bin plan is the introduction of a new trash-collection cycle: Garbage would be picked up weekly in warmer months, when the weather causes odour issues, and bi-weekly during colder ones. A $100,000 pilot project is an ideal way to see how a composting system would work, said city environment director Jay Stanford. But Miller argued starting with 750 homes means the wheels would be in motion to outfit the city with compost bins. "You can't give it (to the 750) and then take it away," she said. "If you do a pilot project, you're starting the project." |