SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In general, city councillors support the idea of cutting the city's weekly curbside garbage bag limit to two from three, but some feel it shouldn't be done until the city develops a blue box recycling program.

City councillor Bob Brooks said at the Municipal Services Committee meeting Monday that while he supports the idea of reducing waste through less bags, he can't support the recommendation to implement a two-bag limit without a blue box recycling program.

"Until we see some more work done toward a blue box system or some sort of cooperative arrangement or contract or whatever with a private company in the blue box, I won't be supporting this initiative at this time."

Coun. Amanda Mallon and Lydia Bardak agreed.

Dennis Kefalas, the director of public works for the city, said based on a waste audit done several years ago, it wasn't feasible for the city to implement a blue box recycling program because the cost would outweigh the benefit.

"Right now we're not looking at curbside recycling because we can't justify the cost," he said.

The city set a bag limit of three in 2006 as part of its move toward a user pay system. The plan was to reduce the limit to two in 2007, alongside a curbside blue box recycling program.

Single family homes pay $11 a month on their utility bill for garbage pickup. When residents exceed the three bag limit, there is a $1 charge per bag.

Blue box or no blue box, Coun. Mark Heyck said he supports administration's recommendation.

"I think long-term it is important that we make every effort to reduce waste and to increase the diversion of waste from our landfill," he said.

"To me this is a practical, manageable, reasonable step towards reducing waste."

Heyck said he doesn't think a small fee for extra garbage is unreasonable.

"We talk about two bags and three bags, but the principle at work here is user pay. We don't all pay the same amount of property taxes, regardless of how big or small our houses are. We don't pay the same amount for food or electricity or for heating oil or anything else, or any other service a family would use, and ultimately that's what we're applying here," he said.

Despite his support, Heyck suggested that the new bag limit be implemented Jan. 1, rather than Sept. 1 as was recommended by administration.

He suggested it might be a better time for people to start fresh.

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery agreed with Heyck's suggestion and said it's about time the city move ahead with a new bag limit.

"I think it's time to follow through with this recommendation that came forward first in 2005 and have it implemented."

Coun. David Wind disagreed, suggesting that instead of imposing a two-bag limit, he would rather see the limit removed all together.

"I think rather than making it more difficult for people and more inconvenient for people to get their garbage collected and into the landfill, we should be encouraging them to get their garbage to the curb so we can pick it up, by removing the cap all together," he said.

Wind said if the city continues to limit the number of bags, in no time residents will start disposing of their waste in more creative ways.

"Residents definitely do want a good garbage pick-up service," he said. "If we don't provide it, what's going to happen is people choose various locations at which they can dispose of their unwanted items and garbage. You'll find it on the back roads and in undeveloped areas in the city."

Wind was the only councillor to suggest removing the bag limit.

Councillors will vote on the implementation of a two-bag garbage limit at a future council meeting.

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