'It doesn't make any sense': Councillors dump on idea of reduced garbage pickup service

It went from hot topic to dead issue very quickly.

On Monday, Saskatoon city councillors effectively closed debate on the idea of reducing the frequency of garbage pickup service.

The subject arose as city councillors brainstormed ways to pare down an expected property tax increase for 2020. Councillors heard that moving to collection every second weekwould save the city $500,000 a year.

But the effect of two key votes Monday against the accumulation of more information means an actual decision on switching up the schedule won't happen at the 2020 budget talks this November, as originally appeared to be a possibility.

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'It doesn't make sense'

Coun.Zach Jeffries said he'd already made up his mind on the issue based on the initial information presented Monday.

"It doesn't make any sense to reduce black bin pickup at this point, so doesn't seem to make any sense to put administration [to] work," he said.

"I have no interest in reducing our black cart pickup until we have a citywide organics program," echoed Coun.Hilary Gough. That program is set to launch in 2023.

The city had reported that reducing black bin service might prompt more people to use the city's green cart program for food and yard waste which could then result in increased costs for that program.

"I don't think that the savings listed in this report in particular with the other implications are sufficient enough to convince me to do so," Gough added.

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