They are currently among the lowest in the province but following changes approved at Monday evening's regular meeting of Yorkton City Council, landfill fees will be rising.
"Historically, Yorkton's landfill rates have been below the majority of Saskatchewan's cities," said Michael Buchholzer, the city's director of Environmental Services in a presentation to council Monday. "Prior to 2010, rates were estimated at $4/tonne with annual increases thereafter. With these increases our rates are still below other cities averages of $48/tonne."
With a site that's reaching near capacity and requiring expansion, Buch-holzer says increased rates are going to be necessary to make for rising costs.
With that said, increases are slated to be phased in and will still weigh in lower than in both Regina and Saskatoon.
Effective June 1, council has approved an increase in both commercial and residential rates by $12.40/tonne in the first year, with an additional $10/tonne coming into effect in 2014 and then subsequently in 2015. Translated into a dollar amount it means rates will go from $22.60 per tonne to $35 per tonne this year.
"The life expectancy of our existing landfill is estimated at two to three years," adds Buchholzer.
"The expansion will consist of approximately four or five large pits, with each pit containing a leachate collection system. Phase one of construction is being estimated at costing $5-6 million.
"With these added costs and stricter environmental regulations for establishing new landfills, communities need to change their attitude towards the handling of solid waste."
Buchholzer says the obvious alternative is to reduce waste and increase recycling strategies and new technology is being examined along these lines but the bottom line is dealing with waste is costly but necessary so increases will be needed.
"Administration is in discussions with companies on other alternative methods... such as reuse of material hauled into the landfill, incorporating recycled material into the construction of our new pit, and evaluating proven waste to energy technologies."
