Garbage collection became a topic of discussion at the most recent city council meeting in Sault Ste. Marie.
City staff is looking at costs for both public and private service options, hoping to have something for council to consider by April.
The city employs four full-time municipal workers to collect waste for about half of the city; the other half is picked up by a private contractor.
City council wants to see the pros and cons of having a fully-privatized service.
"It looks like the private sector does it for about $50,000 cheaper than the public sector. That's not a heck of a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, but if you spread it across the whole city, does it become 100; does it become $200,000 in savings? It's worth looking at." said Councillor Matthew Shoemaker.
City staff believe the amount of money saved, if any, would be minimal.
Susan Hamilton Beach is the Director of Public Works for the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
"There is a minor savings that we can estimate right now with today's values and for our contract that we currently are in. The future, and if the area is 100% contract, I have no confidence there are any savings worth." said Hamilton Beach.
Lack of competition is something city staff is concerned about for future contracts, should the city get out of the waste management business.
"With the hybrid model, the competition is there. We both keep each other in line and I think it's a good, healthy competition. I think the numbers we presented to council prove exactly that, we're both in the business. If we were to go to 100% contractor, I think you'd have the scenario with one contractor in town that has all the equipment, and all the knowledge of the area." said Hamilton Beach.
City staff says this request comes at a complicated time, as both a municipal and provincial elections are slated to happen in 2018. They say the province is currently considering legislation to ban organic waste from landfills, which will further complicate the process.
