City considers fee break for green cart launch

City councillorswill discuss giving Calgary homeownersa temporary break on a new fee meant to coverthe green cartcomposting program.

Every Calgary householdwill start getting green carts next spring for food and yard waste, but the service comes with a new monthly fee of $6.50.

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Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Coun. Joe Magliocca want to waive the fee in 2017.

Nenshi says given last year's budget surplus and the economic downturn, this will give Calgarians a break.

"That money should not be used towards direct tax relief, but it can be used for one-time expenditures."

Councillors will vote on the the idea at ameeting next week.

"What we learned in the pilot is that the approval ratings of the green cart are off the charts," said Nenshi. "They're the highest service satisfaction I've seen in any city service, except police and fire. But remember that they also weren't paying for it. So I think that this is a good opportunity to get people used to it before you end up having to charge them for it."

Nenshi says the cost of potentially canceling that monthly feewill be provided later this month.