Up to $400,000 will be used from Saint John’s capital reserve funds to help implement a new solid waste model.
Common Council approved the endorsement during their regular meeting on Monday night.
It follows a four-month pilot project in 2021 which saw more than 1,000 households each given two 83-litre recycling bins and a 180-litre garbage cart.
City staff said the reserve funds will be used to cover the increased cost of purchasing garbage bins for the remaining eligible households and to contract the deployment of the bins.
The new solid waste model would provide households “front door” collection of recyclables, continue to reduce the handling of garbage by city employees and provide a net-zero financial impact to taxpayers.
During the discussion, Councillor Paula Radwan mentioned that while she supports recycling and composting, and keeping staff safe, she voted against the endorsement.
“I feel like we are spending a lot of money without enough consultation, and that is why I will be voting against this,” said Radwan.
“I’m also encouraging staff to try and figure out what sort of hiccups we’re going to have before we roll this out, this is an investment of almost $2 million, so it’s extremely important not to put the cart before the horse.”
Radwan was the only councillor to vote against the endorsement.
Council also awarded the purchase of recycling totes and lids at $519,866 + HST to Nova Products Division, as well as the purchase of garbage carts at $1,387,926 + HST to Toter, LLC.
A staff report outlines that roughly 21,000 green bins, 21,000 blue bins, and 18,600 garbage bins are needed for eligible households to roll out the new model.
It also noted that the capital investment will pay for itself within six years.
Staff anticipates having all eligible city households included in the new waste collection model by November.
