Whether it’s to voice concerns about the proposed “bag tag” system, or to simply learn more about how it will work, town residents are encouraged to come to the Civic Centre tomorrow for one of two informational meetings.
At these sessions, which are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the public will receive first-hand knowledge on the new waste management bylaw, as well as have an opportunity to give their feedback on bag tags and the new waste management system in general.
“If the public wants to know how this is going to work, it’s best to hear it from the horse’s mouth,” said Doug Brown, the town’s manager of Operations and Facilities, who will be leading the information sessions.
“There’s going to be a slide presentation and data on recycling. Basically, we want to explain why we want to do this [implement bag tags],” he added.
“The whole idea is that the public will be more knowledgeable when they leave.”
Brown admitted that while much of the public feedback he’s seen on bag tags has been regarding the cost to the taxpayers ($1/tag), he’ll be focusing on the bottom line—decreasing the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.
“The province is asking for 60 percent waste diversion. We’re at about five percent here. There’s room for improvement,” he said. “But if we’re going to improve our recycling, how are we going to pay for it?
“That’s where the bag tags come in.”
Brown noted the town has projected that implementing a bag tag system here will increase the amount the recyclables residents put out by three or four times, thus decreasing the amount of garbage that otherwise might go to the dump.
This number could be even higher if residents also start to compost yard and kitchen waste—which is also a part of the town’s waste diversion strategy.
Rick Hallam, superintendent of the Planning and Development division, also will be on hand at tomorrow’s meetings to discuss enforcement of the new waste management bylaw.
“The intent of my presentation is to inform the public that the division does not want to be confrontational,” Hallam stressed this morning. “We want to work with people if they have trouble understanding the new waste management bylaw.
“But at the same time, there will be a zero tolerance for anyone who is clearly acting in contravention of the bylaw,” he warned.
Brown said there will be a suggestion box at tomorrow’s meetings to help council take the public’s input into account before making any final decisions.
He noted he can think of three aspects of the proposed waste management bylaw (which was outlined in a flyer inserted in the April 26 edition of the Daily Bulletin, and is still available at the Civic Centre and the front desk at the Fort Frances Times) that could be altered before the bylaw is passed later this month.
These are:
•allowing residents to put out receptacles (garbage bags) for pickup without them being in a Type ‘A’ or ‘B’ container;
•allowing multi-residential properties—up to a certain number of units—to have tenants put out their garbage individually as opposed to collectively (and thus be treated like a residential as opposed to commercial property for the purposes of pickup); and
•whether or not businesses run out of residences should be considered residential or commercial for the purposes of garbage pickup.
“There are chances things will change,” noted Brown. “It all depends on what council decides.”
Council is expected to make any adjustments (if deemed necessary) next Tuesday (May 25) as a result of public feedback from tomorrow’s two sessions.
Once any adjustments are made, a third and final reading will be made. The bag tag system then will take effect Monday, May 31.
Starting at the beginning of this month, the town has had someone hand-delivering five free introductory bag tags to each residential mailbox in town.
Bag tags also will be available for $1 each at Canada Safeway, Pharmasave, Howarth’s Home Centre, East End Confectionery, Memorial Sports Centre, Civic Centre, the public library, and the Sorting Gap Marina (during the summer months only).
The town has had 350,000 of these bright orange tags printed up.
If the bag tag system goes ahead as currently planned, it is expected to generate $120,140 in revenue in 2004.
The total cost to operate the waste management system in Fort Frances in 2004 is expected to be $203,761 (which includes operation of the landfill site, collection of waste, and recycling services).
The balance of $83,044 is subsidized through taxes.
In 2005 and beyond, however, the bag tag system is expected to raise about $252,000 in revenue.
This amount not only should fund garbage pickup and other aspects of the town’s waste management system, but leave some funds to expand recycling services and to develop a community compost site here.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
