Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 04/06) - There were mixed feelings among residents taking trash to the dump on Saturday, which was officially the last day people could drop off garbage for free before a $5 fee kicked in.

Darcy Hernblad paid a visit to the salvage area of the dump Saturday and found a couple of cases of empty beer bottles, which he said he will use to help pay for hunting and fishing expenses. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo IN THE BAG: New pick-up schedule Monday - Range Lake Tuesday - no garbage service Wednesday - Downtown, Old Town and Ndilo Thursday - Frame Lake South and Northland Trailer Park Friday - Frame Lake North Rates Curbside bag limit - three 77-litre bags or pails Tags for extra bags - $1 each Drop-off fee at the dump - $5

The drop-off fee at the gate was just one of several changes implemented by the city Jan. 1 to garbage services for Yellowknife residents and businesses.

Garbage pick-up schedules have also changed.

Limits on the number of trash bags left at the curb have been imposed and businesses now have to make their own arrangements to haul away trash.

People will still be allowed to enter the dump to salvage at no cost, as long as they're not bringing in garbage.

Darcy Hernblad was at the dump Saturday looking for empty beer bottles to cash in to help supplement expenses for hunting and fishing trips. He said he is fine with the extra fees and bag limits.

"It just might make people recycle more," said Hernblad.

"I think it's a step in the right direction."

Derek Baines, however, wanted to know how the city could justify a drop-off fee when ratepayers have seen their property taxes increased for the second straight year, and the solid waste levy was increased by a dollar last year to $11 a month.

"We pay bloody taxes for it. We pay a fee each month," said Baines. "It's just another tax grab."

Amanda Tait, who recently moved to Yellowknife from Coronation, Alta., marvelled at how considerate people were when leaving behind their discarded junk for salvagers.

"You never see anything set out so nicely at our dump," she said.

The city says the changes and added fees are necessary to raise money to pay for the closure of the landfill and opening a new one.

The cost of doing both projects is expected to ring in past $4.5 million.

"One of the messages we're trying to get out is that over the last number of years the Solid Waste Fund has had a huge deficit," said Greg Kehoe, director of public works.

"We see a number of changes made in 2005 to better reflect that whoever produces the garbage should pay for it. It will be interesting to see how it plays out."

Starting this week, garbage pick-up service was cut to four days from five.

Kehoe said the reduced schedule will allow landfill staff to sort and process recyclable materials on Tuesday, when no garbage trucks will be on city streets.

Residents will only be allowed to leave three 77-litre garbage bags at the curb. Additional bags will need to be tagged for $1 each.

Tags are available at City Hall, the dump gatehouse, Yellowknife Direct Co-op, Sutherland's Drugs and the Village and downtown Reddi-Mart.

Kehoe said the city will give residents an amnesty on extra bags this week.

Last year, Kehoe told a public forum that taxpayers may see the solid waste levy reduced if the amount of garbage going to the dump decreases.

He said his department will undertake a review at the end of the year.

Last year, the city found that the commercial sector was being grossly undercharged, while households were generating $830,000 a year - more than twice than what it cost to provide the service.

"We'll take a look at it after a year to see if it balances out," said Kehoe.

According to city statistics, the dump processes 866 kg of waste per person a year - about 14 per cent more than the national average.