Council has approved a plan to continue issuing four free residential landfill passes per household for 2025, a move aimed at managing excess waste not collected curbside. The decision was made following the Solid Waste Management Policy report, which detailed current landfill usage and curbside collection figures.
The Residential Landfill Free Pass Policy, adopted on Jan. 22, allows property owners paying the municipal garbage tax levy to receive four passes, each valid for waste disposal up to 100 kilograms. Passes are mailed by Feb. 1 each year and remain valid until Jan. 31 of the following year.
The report highlighted that while curbside collection diverted 46 per cent of waste in 2024, a significant portion of residential waste is still brought to the landfill directly. By October 2024, 5,141 passes had been used, representing a 37 per cent utilization rate out of the 14,000 issued.
Councillor Mario Feldhoff raised concerns about the high volume of commercial waste still going into the landfill — accounting for 65 per cent. “This is an area, as a community, I think we need to focus on. I look at these construction dumpsters and everything under the sun is in there.”
The district’s director of engineering, Alex Ramos-Espinoza, confirmed his department is developing an area specifically for construction demolition waste, which will help divert this waste from the general landfill. The new area is expected to be ready sometime next year.
Staff recommended the continuation of the free passes, noting that new tipping fees will come into effect in 2025. In addition, the Energy, Emissions and Solid Waste Advisory Committee will review the Solid Waste Strategy plan next year to further improve waste management practices.
From January to October 2024, curbside collection amounted to 615,070 kilograms of garbage, alongside 153,350 kilograms of recycling, 131,575 kilograms of yard waste, and 245,370 kilograms of food waste. Despite these efforts, landfill waste disposal remains high, with 286,730 kilograms collected through the pass program and another 412,968 kilograms from those paying the standard fee.
Council will re-evaluate the number of passes issued annually before Dec. 31 each year to adapt to changing waste management needs.
