[getsmart-l] Ottawa Politicians tout trash tax

[John O'Gorman]

What I don't read, however, is that what a household pays is directly related to how much it disposes!!??
John

http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/04/10/3970961-sun.html
Politicians tout trash tax
Adapting user-fee-style approach to funding garbage pickup could boost recycling, councillors say
By DEREK PUDDICOMBE, CITY HALL BUREAU

Taxpayers might soon be faced with a separate tax bill to have their curbside garbage removed. 
Bay Coun. Alex Cullen said the city is close to adopting the user-fee-style approach to garbage pickup similar to what Toronto is preparing. 

It's a garbage tax that every property owner would be forced to pay. The approach is to take garbage pickup off the property tax bill, similar to what the city did when it removed water and sewer services last year. 

Cullen said it's a great incentive for those who don't participate in the city's recycling and waste diversion programs. 

LOWER COSTS 
        

He says the way the property tax bill is set up now, the garbage is "out of sight and out of mind," but that philosophy must change. 

If more people recycle, less garbage ends up in the dump and there is less cost to the city and its taxpayers. 

Cullen says some people are better at recycling than others but those who are conscious about recycling shouldn't have to pay for those who don't care to. 

"We can't afford our wasteful lifestyle," said Cullen, who wants municipalities to look across the ocean for tips on how to deal with the growing garbage crisis. 

"Compared to Europe, we are children in the world of recycling and diversion." 

College Coun. Rick Chiarelli said the city is becoming more progressive about recycling by seriously considering implementing a green box program. 

If the city takes on the recycling initiative, it will allow residents to divert their kitchen waste from the landfill. 

'GROWING AWARENESS' 

Chiarelli says some will view it as the city chipping away at the core services it delivers, but added that after years of recycling people are beginning to realize its importance. 

"There is a growing awareness in the public that for the sake of the environment we have to decrease what goes into the landfill," said Chiarelli. 

Steve Desroches, one of the city's newest south-end councillors, said he would support such a tax. He said not only would it force residents to recycle more, it would show the real cost of disposing city garbage. 

"There are real costs to picking up garbage," he said. "The more you recycle, the more you save." 

Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans fears it would lead to higher taxes, but that residents have to become more aware of the garbage they produce and how much it costs to dispose of it. 

"One way to draw attention (to disposal costs) is to separate it out on the tax bill," said Deans.
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