Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 28/05) - In a world where everything has a price, some Yellowknifers appear to be getting a vital service for free.

The honeybucket system, a hold over from a different age, is still used by some Old Town residents, houseboaters on Yellowknife Bay and people who live along the Ingraham Trail.

City Hall says it costs taxpayers $40,000 a year to supply free bags and pickup 14 to 18 bags from locations around Old Town once a week.

Most honeybucket users drop off the bags at Fiddler's Lake sewage lagoon, which has become an illegal dump for household waste.

"We only know of three people out of 12 in the Old Town area who receive pick-up that are paying towards it through their water accounts," said Greg Kehoe director of Public Works and Engineering for the city.

Residents in the rest of the city who have piped or trucked water and sewage pay directly for using that system through their water bills.

"The city isn't being properly reimbursed for it and it's a burden for the rest of the taxpayers," said Dennis Althouse, the city of Yellowknife works superintendent.

The honeybucket system has existed for as long as Public Works officials can remember. The bags have always been picked up, said Althouse. Removing the system would be very difficult because people have come to expect it, he said. "The system in place right now isn't working because the people using it aren't the ones paying for it," said councillor Bob Brooks.

He suggests that people apply for the service and pay a fee.

But he's afraid some would dispose of bags improperly to avoid paying.

"There's no easy answer," Brooks said.

Councillor Doug Witty said he's submitting the honeybucket system as an agenda item at this Monday's committee meeting.

"I do think everyone has to pay their fare share," he said.

Yellowknifer paid a visit to the Woodyard last week, but everyone who was approached declined to comment. was unable to find honeybucket users.