Some councillors doubt garbage costs

Etobicoke, York service contracted out Higher expense seen if city takes over

City councillors want to take a second look at figures showing that the city could save millions of dollars if it continues to contract out garbage collection in Etobicoke and York.

Councillors on the works committee have asked for an auditor to go over a staff report projecting higher costs if the city takes over garbage collection in the two former municipalities.

Etobicoke and York contracted out their garbage collection before Toronto was amalgamated. The contracts expire in 2008 and 2007. A report from city staff estimates that taking back the work would cost the city an extra $ 1.35 million a year in operating costs. The city would also have to buy a new works yard and a fleet of trucks for a total of $ 19.4 million, the report says. But some councillors and critics were skeptical of the numbers yesterday.

Councillor Adam Giambrone (Ward 18, Davenport), noted that the private contracts will have to be negotiated, and the annual cost of $ 9.5 million is likely to jump by at least $ 1 million. The city’s capital costs can probably be lowered as well, he said. Negotiating new work timetables with unionized workers might reduce the need for new trucks, he said.

Brian Cochrane, president of local 416 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents garbage workers, also questioned the report.

“ We strongly disagree that any new yard purchase would be required,” Cochrane told the committee. The cost of the new yard and equipment is estimated at close to $5 million. The works committee has asked for an interim report in January on costs and services, with a final report in March. The committee has also recommended that newspaper publishers pay a higher fee for the right to put vending boxes on the street.

Starting in the New Year, newspapers should pay the city $25 a year for each of the first 100 street boxes, and $100 a year for each remaining box, the committee has recommended. The lower fee for the first 100 boxes is designed to give a break to small publications. Current fees range from $ 43.25 per box in the downtown core to $ 21.05 in suburban areas.

City council first approved charging the new fees late in 2004, but invoices for 2005 were never sent as discussions continued with the newspapers.