Councillors in Windsor have gotten behind it, and next month, a proposal to adopt a regional garbage collection program with pick-up once every two weeks will go to Essex County Council.
However, the Warden isn't so sure County Councillors will get the required four out of seven municipalities, equalling at least half of the population, to agree.
The previous council approved the regional organic waste program, but Hilda MacDonald admitted some have concerns about garbage.
She has tried to alleviate those fears.
"We've tried to assure them that level of service won't change," MacDonald explained. "The trucks wouldn't be running to different municipalities on different days. It would just be more efficient."
The other concern is how will the region pay for it. A report to county councillors suggests there are three options. Councillors could raise the money through the levy, impose user fees, or adopt a hybrid of those two options.
As for the level of service, Windsor City Councillor Kieran McKenzie emphasized that 40 per cent of garbage waste now is organic. He said without food waste, there is no need for weekly collection.
The change would not be immediate. Each municipality has a separate contract for garbage collection. Those agreements need to expire first.
A report to city councillors said they could issue a Request for Proposals this fall, but it could be 2025 before the city moves to weekly organic and bi-weekly garbage collection.
MacDonald said provincial legislation is the driving force behind the change. It requires municipalities to divert waste from landfills, and Essex County is behind the curve.
"We're one of the later municipalities. Some have done it for over 14 years," she said. "It's time for us to move in that direction as well."
The landfill's lifespan should expire in 2041. Creating a new one, according to MacDonald, could cost $100-million.
"I don't know about you, but I don't really want a landfill in my community," said MacDonald. "I'm not so sure anybody else does."
Over the next few weeks, MacDonald should get a good idea of how the vote at county council will proceed. The issue will come up first at individual municipal councils near the end of September.
MacDonald said she was proud her city colleagues backed the plan and hopes those around the table in the county will follow suit.
"If we can educate in the next month or so before the votes come due, then maybe," she said. "Maybe we can have a majority, but it's not a given."
