Inuvik (Mar 11/05) - Inuvik residents could be in for user-pay garbage collection if a proposed bylaw is passed by town council.

For homeowners, the additional charges would be $10 per month, effective July 1. The new blue commercial garbage bins will cost $100 a month but one large bin could be shared by several businesses.

"I'm paying enough taxes already," said Togo restaurant owner Denis Savoie, who would be on the hook for the full $100 as he is the only business using the new bin the town placed beside his establishment.

"Tell them to shove it. The town brings (the new bin) here, I think 'oh great' and now they want to charge me for it. That's a rip-off."

To date, the town has spent about $850,000 on the new bins and a compatible garbage truck.

It is estimated that refitting the entire town with the bins will run in the neighbourhood of $2 million.

At the town's committee of the whole meeting Monday, councillor Karen King said the residents she's spoken to about the user-pay idea are not in support of it.

"I've talked to a lot of people and they are not happy about paying," she said.

Councillor Terry Halifax likened the town's approach in establishing this new system to "putting the cart before the horse."

"We should give people the option to reduce their waste," he said, suggesting the rate be based on how much garbage a person or business generates.

Nobody spoke in support of Halifax's comments and following the brief debate, the sentiment in council was that it had to "sell the idea to the public."

It might be a tough sell if opinions are anything like Savoie's or those of Moe Grant, another small business owner, who says she paid to get her old bins removed to make way for the new ones.

"(The town) misinformed us and didn't tell us we had to pay, just that they were replacing all the bins in town," she said.

"They could have been upfront and asked everyone if they wanted to buy one. As far as I'm concerned, they can take that (blue) bin away."