A sleeve of five Owen Sound garbage bag tags currently costs $12.50. It could rise to $15 by July 1. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
It’s official: the price of a garbage bag tag is rising in Owen Sound this summer.
City council quietly endorsed operations committee meeting minutes Monday which contained an update to the city’s fee schedule, including a 50 cents increase to the price of a bag tag.
As of July 1, each bag tag will cost three dollars. It’s the first increase to the price of garbage bag tags in Owen Sound since 2011.
The 20 per cent hike comes as the city rolls out its new green bin program for food waste and other compostables. Weekly curbside collection of green bin waste is set to begin in Owen Sound next week.
A staff report to the operations committee says it’s anticipated lower garbage volume could “affect the city’s waste management budget,” as some waste previously bound for the landfill makes its way into green bins.
“The reduction in garbage volume creates an opportunity to adjust the fees to help ensure that the revenue from waste management remains balanced,” the report to the operations committee explains.
Last year, the city collected just under $520,000 in revenue from the sale of garbage bag tags.
Staff will be reviewing the increase to the price of bag tags after one year to assess its impact.
