One London city councillor believes clearer wording is needed for a proposed garbage container limit change.
Councillor Josh Morgan says he's spoken to a number of constituents who are confused over the three container limit, with some thinking a container is the same as a single trash bag.
"What this actually is is three containers. The containers are 20kg containers which I think is about 44lbs per container," says Morgan. "I have two containers at home, I regularly fill them. I can fit about four or five bags of garbage in those two. When you talk about three containers within the limit you could probably fit six, maybe seven bags depending on how full they are in those containers."
The civic works committee endorsed dropping the container limit from four to three Wednesday by a vote of 3-1. Only Councillor Michael Van Holst was opposed. Councillor Maureen Cassidy was not at the meeting.
City staff found that 91% of households are already putting three containers or less at the curb on garbage day.
"That's 9 out of 10 people who are already in compliance with three containers," says Morgan. "The vast majority of people that have been commenting, that I've engaged with, didn't realize that they were already in compliance with the new rules."
The curbside garbage container limit reduction would also come with two service enhancements. The city would double the number of exemption days from two to four. Those are days when pick-ups are limit-free. They would also offer $1.50 bag tags for those needing to put out extra containers.
"In the rare circumstances where you may be in that 9% of people impacted by the new rate, you're not going to have to take extra garbage to the depot," says Morgan. "You'll be able to deal with that at the curb. For less than the price of a Tim Hortons coffee you'll be able to put out a whole container worth of garbage if you need to."
Morgan believes a strong education component about the new limit would help Londoners realize the reduction is a reasonable step.
But Councillor Michael Van Holst isn't convinced. He says the current proposal penalizes large families who, despite recycling, still put out more than three containers.
"If we did it so the limit is two (containers), but if you are recycling we would take up to four, it's ambitious, it's fair for everybody, there is no collateral damage and everybody is included," says Van Holst. "It's on target. It actually encourages that action we are looking for, which is more recycling."
Van Holst plans to put forward a motion at council to refer the issue back to staff for retooling.
Since phasing in a four container limit in 2006, the average household has cut the amount of garbage heading to the curb by 20%. The previous limit was 16 containers.
If council approves the container reduction at next week's meeting, the new limit would go into effect January 2017.
