Iqaluit council temporarily waiving tipping fees for metal waste
Proposal approved in vote despite concerns derelict vehicle cleanup is not city’s responsibility
Iqaluit city councillors voted this week to temporarily waive tipping fees for metal-waste disposal, starting Thursday. (File photo)
Iqaluit city councillors voted Tuesday to approve a one-time metal waste collection program in the city.
The program, which will run from Aug. 29 to Oct. 18, includes waiving tipping fees and offering transportation assistance for larger items to clear the streets of old vehicles, ATVs and other metal debris.
The city expects this to cost approximately $150,000.
The decision at Tuesday’s council meeting came after discussions on Aug. 13 where some councillors said cleaning up abandoned vehicles is not the city’s responsibility.
At that meeting, council unanimously deferred the vote after some members worried the city is taking on an extra financial burden that it’s not responsible for.
“It’s not something I like to do, to have this cost to the city,” said Coun. Kyle Sheppard, who despite this sentiment voted in favour of the motion Tuesday.
The fee to dispose of large waste, including cars, snowmobiles or construction debris, ranges from $15 to $575 depending on the type of waste.
The metal-waste cleanup program is the first like this beyond the city’s annual community cleanup efforts.
“It’s creating an unrealistic expectation for future landfill disposal,” said Coun. Romeyn Stevenson, who was the only member to vote against adoption of the program.
He said the program will create a “learnt behaviour” with people not expecting ever to pay tipping fees.
The city has taken steps to offset the cost of the program, according to the proposal, including applying for $90,000 in funding from the Government of Nunavut.
It also intends to “express interest” in more funding through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency in October.
The city plans to also begin discussions with the territorial Department of Economic Development and Transportation about potential alternatives to the collection of tipping fees, the proposal said.
That could include an import tax on vehicles coming into Iqaluit and the establishment of an administrative fee that can be charged annually during registration of vehicles.
Sheppard said he wants the city’s metal waste initiatives to be as productive as possible.
He suggested two ideas: Going on the radio with public service announcements and issuing “targeted notices” to residents with metal or derelict vehicles at their homes.
“I want to make sure there is an effective notice given to residents,” Sheppard said.
The metal-waste program proposal was presented partly as a measure to reduce fire hazards in the city. There have been a number of derelict vehicle fires this summer in Iqaluit, although the program proposal predates these occurrences.
Sure its not good for business, but as for the citys garbage and junk this is one step to making this city a cleaner place.
Whoever gave councilors the idea that this is not a city responsiblity? As I mentioned in the previous article, there is literally a City of Iqaluit bylaw that addresses this. Did any councilor read that bylaw? Did any councilor suggest following the bylaw? Or consider following their own bylaw as an option? What is the bylaw for if they’re not going to follow it.
Add one more thing that taxpayers are paying for that delinquents are not. Too many receiving tax benefits versus too few paying tax.
I recently paid to have an old vehicle removed from my property that somebody else had left there. It cost an arm and a leg, will I be able to get my money back from the City? Probably not, hence my posted name, haha
Abandoned vehicles everywhere and all slowly leaking toxins. Better to round them up and manage in a designated place. Beyond that, yearly fines if $500+ for people using their yards as junk piles. Clean up this town.
As if people are going to pay a fine .
Charging when the vehicle first arrives is the most appropriate practice and that way the burden falls to those most able to afford it. Those buying close to the end of the vehicle’s life are often economically challenged already and are then saddled with an additional expense they can’t afford.
Don t buy , a LEMOM with 250 000 KM on it , just going to become a lawn ornament.