Saskatoon residents will likely be moving to a "Pay As You Throw" garbage system but the full cost of implementing it and precise user fees will not be known until at least September.
Councillors voted Monday to develop the utility for curbside collection, through which households will pay a variable utility fee depending on the size of their garbage cart.
A decision on whether — and how — to implement it will not be made until after September, when a more detailed report by the city administration addresses questions about costs and implementation.
Issues such as accessibility for people with mobility issues and concerns about low-income residents' ability to pay will also be addressed at a later date.
'Status quo is not an option'
But supporters of the change voted to start developing the utility, saying the current system is not sustainable.
"And if we don't do anything then we are just simply kicking the can down the road and expecting future generations and people years down the road to deal with the situation."
Council also voted to develop an organics program that will operate year-round using a single green cart for food and yard waste.
Some decisions deferred
The current cart size and frequency of curbside recycling will remain the same, but councillors deferred a decision on how much to spend buying green carts.The cost of organics collection and processing is also yet to be determined.
The city administration had recommended that up to $8.5 million be approved to buy the carts.