Windsor Councillor Kieran McKenzie is disappointed the majority of municipalities in Essex County voted against a regional approach to waste and organics collection.
The Municipality of Lakeshore and the Town of LaSalle held the final votes Tuesday night and ultimately voted against the proposal.
"Now we literally have to go back to the drawing board," said McKenzie who sits on the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority board. "It's unfortunate because what that means is likely higher costs for everybody, what it means is a shorter lifespan for the regional landfill for everybody and worse environmental outcomes."
By 2025, the City of Windsor is required to provide curbside collection of food and organic waste and must divert 70 per cent of its organic waste.
Smaller municipalities like Leamington, Amherstburg, LaSalle, and Tecumseh only have to divert 50 per cent.
"The fact that everybody isn't in, those costs are now more for those that are going to be in on the solid waste authority program, whatever that looks like and frankly those costs are going to be escalated for every municipality who has chosen to opt out," said McKenzie.
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, chair of the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority said a new plan will be worked out before the deadline. But he warns municipalities will not be offered competitive pricing going it alone.
"The harsh reality is there's only one tax payer and our responsibility is really to provide the best service possible at the most cost effective way for our citizens, they deserve at least that," said McNamara.
