Mayor Nenshi questions the value of proposed Green Cart program

The city’s proposed green cart program, which includes a composting facility to process organic waste, has Mayor Naheed Nenshi wondering if the costs of the program outweigh the benefits.

With a proposal going before the Priorities and Finance Committee on Tuesday, it’s come to light that the start up costs for the program will be $158-million.  That’s on top of the $35-million annual operating costs.

The mayor feels that’s a lot of money and wonders if it’s worth it.  Nenshi notes, unlike Toronto, Calgary’s landfills aren’t nearing capacity and are currently about 60-per cent full with a life span of another 30 years.

The goal of the organic waste disposal program is to reduce what goes into landfills by 80-per cent by 2020.

For home owners, it would mean not only a third cart — in addition to the black and blue ones currently in use for trash and recyclables, but an additional $6.50 a month or $78 a year.

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