If a motion gets the approval of city councillors on Tuesday night, residents in Windsor will have their garbage picked up once every two weeks and organic waste weekly.
A major change in how the city and Essex County collect waste from residential households is proposed to lengthen the landfill's life, fight climate change, and create economic opportunity.
In addition to changes in garbage pickup and an organic waste program, city residents will see the number of days yard waste is collected increase from 13 times a year to 16 or 18.
That's why Councillor Kieran McKenzie pushes back against any suggestion the new regime would mean a service cut.
Forty per cent of average household garbage is organic. It's leftover food, food scrapes, and food no longer fit to eat.
It would mean an extensive public education campaign. A survey conducted last year showed 42 per cent of respondents opposed the change, but another 41 per cent favoured it.
"In my mind, change is one of the only constants, and this is one of those things where we have, not only the opportunity, but we have an obligation," said McKenzie.
While McKenzie cited climate change, the province has mandated municipalities to rethink their waste collection.
The landfill in Essex County's life expectancy is 2041, but residents in the region, across Ontario, are creating more waste.
Meanwhile, organic waste presents unique opportunities.
"Separating out organic waste and reusing that material for something useful like compost or an energy source are all critical opportunities that we are considering," added McKenzie.
Using it as an energy source could create a new industry in Essex County.
Currently, waste collection costs are $4.5-million. Implementation could increase that expense to $6.3-million, but McKenzie pointed out that the city is prepared.
"The implementation of this has already been budgeted -- we know what the cost is going to be over the next five years," he said. "If we do not make investments to address all of the issues around climate change, it will cost us more."
