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Coun. Shane Keating has mixed feelings about the new proposal.

“They’re talking about it as a corporation, rather than a service,” said Keating.

He believes residents should have more options, especially those who have vastly reduced waste. If the service was privatized, people could choose the best and most affordable option for their garbage needs, Keating suggested.

In the latest proposal, it makes no difference for homeowners who either under-use or fill the space in their black bin, he said. “I think that’s the part we’re missing,” added Keating.

Currently, all households pay the same monthly black cart program charge regardless of the amount of waste they produce. According to the city report, only about four per cent of households set out excess garbage, the cost of which is paid by all households with black cart collection.

If the city introduced variable bin sizes, it would cost between $11 million and $13.5 million in the first year, and $1.5 million to $2.5 million in annual costs for subsequent years, bureaucrats said. The analysis by city administration also indicated new cart sizes would result in increased program costs, including cart purchase, storage and delivery costs, and billing system changes.

The report found it will cost approximately $300,000 in the first year and $200,000 annually to introduce the tag-a-bag program, which includes costs associated with customer education and communication, printing tags or stickers, and managing a distribution network. It will also put a small amount of money back in the pockets of homeowners, as monthly black cart charges are likely to be reduced by 10 cents.