Sidney is considering its options now that Hartland landfill plans to ban all kitchen scraps by Jan. 1, 2015.
Councillors Steve Price, Mervyn Lougher-Goodey and Kenny Podmore volunteered to be part of a working group to determine the costs and collection options associated with the future ban.
For the meantime, council voted to extend for 18 months its current garbage collection contract with Alpine Disposal and Recycling, requiring a 3.8 per cent cost increase for the price of fuel.
Coun. Marilyn Loveless hoped to see a different formula that could send kitchen scraps or compost to food producers.
“It’s absolute madness … to make our own growers pay for our own garbage,” she said. “I can only support this if it benefits our local growers.”
Currently, the town collects garbage weekly, and garden compost monthly. Sticking to that schedule means the town will begin paying a 20 per cent tipping fee at Hartland, starting Jan. 1, 2014. That costs less, said engineering and works director Rob Hall, than starting a collection system for garbage and separated kitchen scraps in 2013. The latter would require the town to buy totes, where residents could throw their kitchen scraps, and other startup costs, Hall said.
Despite the 3.8 per cent cost increase, the garbage levy for Sidney residents is unlikely.