Toronto residents could face a temporary increase in water and waste collection fees as the city proposes a temporary 3% increase for solid waste management services and Toronto Water services.
Once approved, the temporary rates will take effect from January 1, 2024, until the final budget is reviewed in February.
The proposed increase is considered moderate and aims to maintain essential services while allocating funds for future capital needs.
The city emphasizes that implementing the current temporary increase helps prevent larger increases when the final budget is approved.
Residents will be charged based on the size of their waste bin (ranging from small to XLarge), with a 3% increase, ranging from $8.60 to $16.45 annually.
In addition to the 3% increase, a household with a small bin will have to pay $295.29 per year, an increase of $8.60 compared to before.
A medium-sized bin will cost $358.47 per year, an additional $10.44; a large bin will be priced at $486.86, an extra $14.18; and an XLarge bin will cost $564.71 annually, an additional $16.45.
In addition to household waste collection, the solid waste management service fee also supports the collection and processing of yard waste, organic waste, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, as well as oversized items. The fee also covers city-wide waste collection, community environmental days, street and park litter collection, landfill closure and maintenance, and waste storage facilities.
For water services, city officials state that an average household consuming 230 cubic meters (approximately 230,000 liters) of water per year will have to pay an additional $30 per year, equivalent to about 8 cents per day (with a total cost of $1,039).
Toronto Water also provides safe drinking water for residents, collects and treats wastewater, and manages stormwater.
The executive committee will review the proposed rates on December 5, and the city council will convene from December 13 to December 15 for final approval, with the temporary rates taking effect on the New Year’s Day.
