WINNIPEG - February 5, 2010 - Winnipeg residents are invited to comment on proposed changes to the City of Winnipeg’s Sewer By-law. A new draft By-law has been prepared in user-friendly language and includes stricter requirements to further protect our wastewater, land drainage and river systems.

A by-law review was undertaken because:

1. The existing by-law has been in effect for about 13 years and is due for updating.
2. There is a general trend for municipalities to increase control of substances discharged to sewer systems.
3. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment has suggested by-law standards.
4. It incorporates recommendations made by the Clean Environment Commission to the Minister of Conservation in 2003.

Some examples of the changes are:

Changes that would apply to all users of Winnipeg’s sewer system

There are new restrictions on substances that can be put down the drain, such as prescribed and over-the-counter medication, and toxic substances. There are also clearer restrictions on draining swimming pool water.

New requirement for food service establishments

Food service establishments that are required to have a grease interceptor (because they put cooking oil or grease down the drain) will be required to have a Grease Interceptor Licence.

New requirements for other businesses

Businesses that put prohibited or restricted substances down the drain will be required to submit a pollution prevention plan, starting with metal finishing companies. There are new charges for businesses that put nitrogen or phosphorus down the drain in amounts that are over the By-law limit.

Residents can share their views on the proposed changes by Friday, March 12, 2010, by:

• email,
• mail to 112-1199 Pacific Ave, Winnipeg MB, R3E 3S8, Attention: Sewer By-law Consultation, or
• attending a meeting at the Masonic Memorial Temple, 420 Corydon Avenue

Residents can see the draft By-law and other information by:

• visiting winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste
• phoning 311, open 24 hours every day

Following the consultation, a report for City Council to review and consider will be prepared and will include a recommended By-law and a summary of the public consultation.

WINNIPEG - February 5, 2010 - Winnipeg Public Library’s Fort Garry branch, 1360 Pembina Highway, is celebrating 50 years of public service with an Open House on Friday, February 12, starting at 1 p.m. City Councillor and member of the Winnipeg Public Library Board Mike Pagtakhan, Manager of Library Services Rick Walker and Douglas Mackie, nephew of Fort Garry Library benefactor Dr. Arthur Hogg, will open the ceremonies. Celebrations include:

• Unveiling of three Henry Kalen photographs of Fort Garry Library, circa 1960, by special guests author David Arnason, Library Board Chair Rita Burgess and member of the City Centre Library Advisory Committee Jane Fudge.
• A performance by the Grade 4 Choir from Oakenwald School, under the direction of Music Specialist Lynn Forsyth.
• A 2:00 p.m. talk on the literary history of Winnipeg and Fort Garry, by David Arnason and Mhari Mackintosh, co-editors of The Imagined City: A Literary History of Winnipeg.
• Refreshments, displays and a slide show of the history of the Fort Garry Library.

The Library continues the celebrations on Saturday, February 13 with a 2 p.m. special performance for families entitled ‘Literacy and Lunacy’ by Al Simmons. Afterwards, children are invited to stay to make their own book to take home.

All are welcome to attend. For more information on these free events, please contact Fort Garry Library at 204-986-4918.

WINNIPEG - February 5, 2010 - The Public Service today recommended that the City award a multi-year contract for weekly residential automated collection of recyclables to National Waste Services Inc.

A report containing the recommendation goes to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works for consideration on Tuesday, February 9. The proposal calls for the seven-and-a-half year contract to begin September 16, 2010 to March 2, 2018. The total estimated cost over the term of the contract is $35,056,800.

The report also asks for authority to issue a Bid Opportunity for the lease or purchase of 185,000 carts for the proposed September 2010 start date. The cost of the 240 litre carts has been factored into the total cost of the operating budget. The proposal for a weekly collection system took into account the results of on-line and telephone research studies and surveys.

The Public Service further recommends that service in the lane collection areas be provided on both sides of the lane to better serve residents.

On October 28, 2009 Council approved a tendering strategy for the new 2010 collection contract for the City’s residential recycling program. The public service was asked to obtain costs for different collection alternatives along with a cost for the collection service of the current blue box program. There were bids from four service providers.

WINNIPEG - February 5, 2010 - The Public Service today recommended phasing in curbside yard waste pickup during peak periods of the spring and fall in the northwest area now being served by the new automated garbage collection program.

A report to be considered by Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on Tuesday, February 9, also recommends that the St. James area Leaf-It-With-Us Depot be permanently closed once the yard waste program gets underway.

Savings from the new automated garbage collection program in the northwest area would fund the estimated annual program cost of $232,000.

This program would provide residents with an environmentally friendly option for disposing of yard waste that doesn’t fit in their garbage cart during peak periods. In between the spring and fall collection periods, residents could grasscycle (leave the clippings on the lawn), use a backyard composter, or place yard waste in their garbage cart.

The recommendation follows a review of four options that began when the Committee at its October 13, 2009 meeting requested that the Public Service investigate and report back on options for a program on curbside pickup of leaves, yard waste and organics.

Here are the four options:

Option 1 – Depot Program (status quo)

This option maintains the existing Leaf It With Us program at 12 drop-off depots during the spring and fall. There would be no added costs to continue with this option.

Option 2 – City-wide spring and fall curbside yard waste collection program (recommended)

This option includes:

• manual collection of yard waste bagged only in certifiable compostable bags
• bi-weekly collection for four weeks in the spring and four weeks in the fall, depending on weather.

The estimated cost for this option city-wide is $1,043,000.

Option 3 – Seven month city-wide yard waste collection program

This is a city-wide curbside manual collection program from May to November (depending on weather) of yard waste bagged only in certifiable compostable bags. The estimated annual cost is $2,217,000.

Option 4 – 12 month city-wide organics and yard waste curbside collection

This option involves a year-round city-wide curbside collection program including:

• semi-automated collection of organic kitchen waste in a special cart, and
• manual collection of bagged yard waste only in certifiable compostable bags.

The estimated annual operating cost would be $4,995,000, and there would be an estimated capital cost of $5,000,000.