Regina’s executive committee has voted to change the garbage, recycling, and yard waste pay model.

Garbage, recycling and the new yard waste pickup program will now be charged on utility bills rather than property taxes.

Right now, recycling fees appear on utility bills, and garbage collection falls under property taxes. The yard waste pickup problem will be a new service starting next fall.

Residents can choose between the current 360-litre garbage cart or a smaller 240-litre cart. If households choose the smaller 240-litre garbage cart, their yearly fees would be $193.45; if they choose the larger garbage cart, it would cost $284.70 per year.

Moving to a user fee for all three curbside waste services will remove approximately $8.9 million in costs from the property tax base.

The City has the goal of seeing its waste diversion rate increase to 65 per cent to prolong the life of the city landfill. Since 2015, the rate has remained static at about 20 per cent.

A new landfill costs between $50 million and $100 million.

If city council approves next week’s meeting, the new fee structure will come into effect on January 1, 2024.