Private garbage collection could begin next year west of Yonge St. to the Humber River if council awards a contract to the low bidder at its two-day meeting starting Monday.

Etobicoke has had private collection for years and the positive experience there will make it harder to argue against awarding the new job to GFL Environmental East Corporation, said Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.

“Etobicoke is proof positive it works,” said Holyday, a former Etobicoke mayor. “It’s not a cut in service at all. It’s efficiency savings, and it’s the very kind of thing we have to do.”

City officials say the proposed seven-year agreement would save taxpayers $78.4 million, or $11.2 million per year.

Councillors will also decide whether to ban the sale and consumption of shark fin products, a move that was unanimously endorsed by the licensing committee, whose chair is looking for similar support at council.

However, Holyday said he’d prefer other cities lead the way rather than expose Toronto to the risk of a potentially costly legal battle.

“I’m not supportive of anybody trimming fins and throwing sharks back in the water, that’s barbaric,” Holyday said. “But why should the city get in the middle of a legal fight that is sure to come?”

Holyday said council needs to respond to a report last week from the ombudsman showing the city routinely dismisses damage claims from potholes, sewer backups and fallen trees.

He was disturbed by ombudsman Fiona Crean’s finding that claims are often rejected without investigation.

“There’s got to be some action taken on this,” Holyday said. “People have to be treated in a fair way. Reasonable due diligence needs to be done on these claims.”

A proposal to close the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway for up to 12 hours on July 22 to accommodate an Ironman triathlon event is also up for discussion.

The closure would permit about 1,000 competitors to complete the 40-kilometre bike ride part of the event, which includes a 10-kilometre off-road run and 1.5 kilometre lake swim.

Councillors are also scheduled to debate licensing household movers to protect the public in the wake of a police investigation last year that uncovered ripoffs.

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Toronto police Detective Kevin Hooper recounted the work of Project Overhaul that led to a slew of charges - including extortion - against a Scarborough mover.

The city needs the provincial government’s okay before it could begin to license movers.