Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 11/02) - The city's 2002 draft budget pledges $135,000 to the first stage of Yellowknife's solid waste management plan.

But councillors are disputing that provision as a 35 per cent increase in the garbage levy would be required to pay for it.

A look at the solid waste management plan The plan in question was drafted by EBA Consultants and approved by council last August. It calls for the creation of a waste management coordinator position and the diversion of 38 per cent of city garbage from going to the dump within 20 years. That would be done through a number of steps, including: - working with businesses to send packaging materials back south on delivery trucks - implementing a residential composting initiative - providing recycling facilities at multi-family residential and office buildings It also calls for a solid waste coordinator, who would work to find new sources of revenue from recycling, increase public awareness on solid waste and work to implement the report's suggestions. Over a couple of decades, the program is planned to cost over $1.5 million, in figures projected to compensate for inflation. However, the report predicts a net savings of $806,000 -- also in today's dollars -- most of which would be realized by delaying the speed at which the current dump is filled.

The $135,000 budget line item would be split into $65,000 for the creation of a solid waste co-ordinator position and $70,000 for recycling programs. If approved, this will be the first step in a 20-year plan to divert 38 per cent of garbage from the waste stream.

That projection concerns Coun. Alan Woytuik who called it "pretty optimistic" and cast doubt on finding many alternative recycling markets.

"I don't think we can afford to recycle everything, given our distance from markets and the expense of it," he said.

He said the city should wait until advances in technology allow more materials to be recycled.

"As time progresses, newer technologies will make it easier to salvage some of the materials that are currently going into the dump," he said. "I think 50 years from now we'll have corporations going back and mining old dumpsites and making a profit at it."

Coun. Ben McDonald disagreed. "That makes no sense to me whatsoever," he said. "The strategic plan shows that as long as we make the investment at the outset, the plan pays for itself. If five years from now technology improves, then the program is better."

Plan is overdue

McDonald said there is widespread support among the community for the waste management initiative.

"We're long overdue on handling our waste more responsibly," he said.

Coun. Dave Ramsay opposed McDonald's arguments. "Some councillors want this at any cost, but I'm not one of them," he said, suggesting that perhaps the city should look into privatizing the dump. That would force a private corporation to recycle everything they can to maximize profits, he said.

"(Raising the garbage levy to finance the program) is an increase to the cost of living here in Yellowknife," he said. "Fundamentally it's a good approach, but I think we have to try to get some help in funding it."

According to Mayor Gord Van Tighem, the city is already seeking money from sources like the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, the NWT Energy Secretariat and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

"As the budget is presented, it looks at known sources of revenue," he said, but that does not prevent the city from attempting to bring in more money as the year progresses.

Van Tighem said the 38 per cent figure is realistic because "others have done it." He pointed to efforts in Kelowna, B.C., which has diverted up to 50 per cent of garbage from dumps according to waste reduction co-ordinator Jan Enns.

Work with GNWT

He also said the city needs to work with other levels of government to implement a more effective program. For example, he wants the government of the Northwest Territories to introduce a better bottle recovery program, through the use of measures such as bottle deposits.

The GNWT conducted a public consultation on bottle recovery last summer. Staff are planning to present a proposal for legislation to cabinet by late February, said environmental protection services director Emery Paquin.

Van Tighem said such strategies have been key in program success in other areas of the country.

If the tightness of money in this year's budget means chopping services, Van Tighem said the city could save by delaying the start of the program.

"In this case, you're paying somebody -- the major expenditure is a co-ordinator," he said. "If you pay them two months' salary it's a lot less than if you pay them 10 months," he said.

Despite the opposition from some corners, Coun. O'Reilly said he wants the money in the budget.

"It's a very important initiative, something that is long overdue," he said. Referring to the current waste management situation, he added, "we don't want to leave this legacy for our children and grandchildren."