Waste Management Monday!

One of the most important debates in the city's history could take place tomorrow. It's all about garbage.
This year your garbage calendar will remain basically the same except for the amnesty dates that will be included allowing you the opportunity to get rid of more than one bag a week. Councillors hope these amnesty days will cut into the rapid increase of illegal dumping in Hamilton. The debate on Monday however will be about a seven year contract that with only a little tweaking over that time period will give taxpayers "continuing change" relief. But what will the deal look like? Will it be the status quo of one bag or container a week? Will it be six bags on a bi weekly pickup schedule which seems to be preferred by staff giving Hamilton more bang for its buck. Could it be a blend? We find out tomorrow at Public Works with ratification of whatever the committee decides coming Wednesday at City Council. Watch these councillors at this Special Public Works meeting. Brian McHattie will likely praise the one bag a week stance that council had previously taken and he will suggest any change from what he calls a progressive Hamilton garbage collection policy will be a step backwards. Brenda Johnson will likely be strong in her support. Watch the three city mountain councillors. Its Tom Jackson who has pushed for the amnesty days because of the illegal dumping especially along the mountain brow. He is supported in that push by Scott Duvall and Terry Whitehead. What none of the mountain councillors appear to support is a bi weekly pick up that would leave medical and animal waste collecting and possibly smelling for two weeks instead of one. This who discussion may come down to the "poo". I will be there for the entire debate tweeting at dougfarraway14 and will have a blog posted after the debate is done at blogspot.com.