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City aims to phase out honey bags Ten shack dwellers to get funding for composting toiletsNicole Veerman Northern News Services Published Friday, September 16, 2011
In 2010, the city started a composting toilet pilot project in two shacks being serviced by honey bag service. The intention is to expand the project this fall to include the 10 other registered residents currently receiving the service. Honey bag pick-up services cost the city approximately $15,000 a year. They also require the use of a dedicated truck that needs to be replaced soon, at a cost of approximately $40,000. The city's plan is to provide funding of $17,500 - $1,750 per person - to either purchase and install composting toilets outright or to put toward the purchase and installation of a propane toilet, which is more expensive. A composting toilet works by essentially turning human waste into soil through the decomposing activity of bacterial organisms. Dennis Kefalas, director of public works, said the expansion of the pilot project will save the city money, with the $17,500 paying itself off in less than a year, if one take into account the cost of a new vehicle. Frankie Parker, one of the two persons to receive a shiny new bathroom fixture last summer, said although she didn't have a problem with using a honeybucket, she's loving her new composting toilet. "They seem to work really, really well. My house-sitters that were there this winter said that they went through the winter quite well, with no problems of freezing up, which was my biggest concern, as I don't always keep my house really, really warm," she said. "And I was surprised that my hydro bill also didn't go up much at all, with the fact that it was plugged in over the winter to keep it running and keep it warm so it wouldn't freeze." She said it was also easy to install. The city offered to have someone do it for her, but Parker decided to do it herself. "I knew a bit about them and wanted to learn as much as I could, so I just said, 'No, no, drop it off. I'd like to install it myself.' It was really easy, really, really easy," she said. "It basically comes as one large unit and then the only things you really have to work on is getting your chimney up and out so you have an airflow that sucks smell out of the house. "It took not longer than 20 minutes to get it up and in, put the little hole in my roof and run the piping through, so it wasn't hard at all to put in." The city has been providing honey bag collection for more than 50 years. In the late 1970s, the city and property owners using the service came to a grandfathered agreement, stating when properties owned before 1969 changed ownership, alternative waste management systems would be put in place. According to a memo presented to the Municipal Service Committee Monday, the policy was never enforced and collection has continued. "I've never understood why the city has to maintain the service," said Coun. Paul Falvo during Monday's meeting. "I mean, in some ways it's very nice and quaint that we do. I think the shacks and the character buildings in Old Town add a lot to the fabric of our city and I wouldn't want to see them go away, but why we feel an obligation to continue to pick up the bags, I'm not sure." Bob Long, the city's senior administrator, said it's a public health and safety issue and under the Health Act, the city is responsible for minimizing health risks. Coun. Amanda Mallon said she thinks the initiative is great. "I wish this was around 14 years ago when I had to deal with my honeybucket," she said. Although this will put an end to honey bag collection, the city is pledging to keep the drop-off bin at the landfill for residents, such as houseboaters and cabin dwellers on Highway 4, who continue to use honey bags. "I'm also glad (the city is) keeping the option open out at the landfill centre for people to drop things off, so we don't have any surprises dropped off on the side of the road," added Mallon.
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