New recycling plant project delayed

Last night at city council Judy Koziol put forth the option to extend the current contract with Miller waste for two years.

“At this point it would not be a fiscally responsible decision to move forward with the new waste and recycling plant. We simply don’t have the money in the budget,” Koziol said.

She did admit however that a new recycling plant is needed by 2010 at the latest.
The city needs an additional 1.5 million dollars to move the project forward. Councilor Mac Bain said other options must be explored now.

“Putting off a new recycling plant for a year or two is just a Band-Aid solution. There are options like charging two dollars per garbage bag, but I am very disappointed we haven’t been able to find more inexpensive options,” Bain said.

He added that putting off a new recycling plant now could make it more difficult to reach conversion rates in the future.

North Bay currently sits around 30% conversion rate. The city must be at 70% by 2010.
The motion moved forward to postpone the creation of a new recycling plant.

“We need to find a plan that will accommodate the every increasing cost of waste and recycling,” Deputy Mayor Chirico said.