The City of Regina is getting tough on trash.
In a media release Thursday, the city said council has given the green light to a new system of warnings and fines for homeowners who don’t use their garbage or recycling carts properly.
“The objective is to reduce litter in the community,” said Kurtis Doney, the City of Regina’s director of water, waste and environment. “We’ll have crews out cleaning up any litter and if they see carts that are contributing to that litter, that’s when they would tag the carts.
“The importance is to educate residents and make sure they’re aware of how to use their carts. And if the behaviour doesn’t change, then there’s the option to have tickets and enforcement after the residents receive a tag.”
Homeowners will get a tag on their cart and a letter for violations such as: A cart that’s overfilled to such an extent that the lid can’t be closed; items left beside the cart or on the cart’s lid; material in the garbage cart that isn’t bagged; and, a cart that’s left out after pickup or that isn’t stored properly after collection.
If carts still aren’t used properly after a tag and letter are issued, homeowners may face fines. A first offence will result in a fine of $150, a second offence will get a $200 fine, and third and subsequent offences will generate fines of $250.
“The hope is that obviously through education, we won’t have to issue tickets,” Doney said. “But if we do have to issue tickets, the idea is that it’s an escalating enforcement so that residents can change their behaviour.”
According to the city, collection services could be suspended or cancelled outright after several fines are levied. In those cases, Doney said, the homeowners would be asked to find a private company to collect their garbage and recycling.