Landfill rates and garbage collection fees in the City of Moose Jaw will be going up in the new year. 

City council voted in favour of increasing residential water collection rates by three per cent annually for the next three years. Councillors Dawn Luhning and Kim Robinson voted opposed. 

Council also voted in favour of rates at the landfill with Luhning opposed. 

“I have had a number of calls over the years from residents not happy with the charges on their waste collection bills. I know the pressures the community is under, and I know there are going to be lots of decisions to make. For me, I just feel like this is one that we can maybe leave for a little bit,” Luhning said. 

Robinson said he was opposed because the rate increases punish residents for simply living in Moose Jaw. 

Director of Financial Services Brian Acker told council that the garbage collection rates are cost recovery, while the landfill tipping rates are profits that go towards the new landfill. 

Coun. Jamey Logan voiced his support for the rate increases. 

“Ten dollars, albeit a substantial increase, I will be supporting. I do think it’s important to get the new landfill up and operating and part of this will help that moving forward and will also help the cost of closing. You can't just close the gates on the landfill and walk away. There are substantial costs associated with that,” Logan said. 

Director of Operations Bevan Harlton said one of the goals is to keep the city’s rates competitive compared to other municipalities. 

“Both the collection rate and the tipping rates are an adjustment or correction to keep us up with our neighbours and to have us at a cost recovery that’s not beyond what other municipalities are asking,” he said 

He went on to compare Moose Jaw’s rates to other cities and town in the province. 

“In terms of tipping rates, we looked at 14 communities and found an average of $12.79 to use the landfill with additional out-of-town charges at or beyond Moose Jaw’s. The important one is Regina and staying on par with Regina and not pushing customers away or having more come our way than we should,” Harlton said. 

The new residential waste collection rate for 2024 would be $30.87, billed quarterly. The rates would then go to $31.80 in 2025 and $32.75 in 2026. The waste collection rates were done up to 2026 as the new landfill is planned to be opened by 2027. The current residential waste collection rate is $29.97. 

Several changes were made to the landfill rates. Residential standard waste per tonne is going up from $80 to $90. Residential standard waste for a half-ton or small vehicle is increasing from $10 to $12. The flat rate for residential special handled waste is increasing from $339 plus $80 per tonne to $350 plus $90 per tonne. 

For non-residents, the standard waste per tonne is unchanged at $100. The standard waste with a half-ton truck or small vehicle is going up from $16 to $18. Special handled waste flat rate is going up from $368 to $400 plus $100 per tonne. 

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