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Changes to waste management that included the organics program were seen as the key plank in city plans to divert more material from the landfill.

Postponing the organics program would be a stunning reversal after months of debate.

Council voted in December to reverse a decision to implement user fees for garbage pickup based on various cart sizes for single-family homes.

That decision, along with the approval of an organics program, would result in a4.7 per cent property tax increase in 2020 to pay for the new service.

City hall is also introducing its first two-year budget next year to cover the years 2020 and 2021. The next municipal election is scheduled for October 2020.

Council voted 7-4 in November to pay for the new organics program with property tax. Donauer voted against the property tax funding model.

At the same November meeting, council voted 6-5 to implement user fees for trash collection. A few days later, Coun. Darren Hill signalled that he wanted to rescind his vote; he did so in December.

Donauer wants council to vote on a motion to have “the City of Saskatoon look at conducting a pilot organics program, before the city-wide rollout.”

The City of Regina is proceeding with an organics pilot project before introducing a city-wide program.

Council will also vote on the possibility of allowing people who currently compost to opt out of the program, and to expand the city’s voluntary green cart program. A ban on organic material, like food and yard waste, from the landfill and from garbage carts will also be considered.