Region could pay if Waterloo dumps leaf collection

Regional officials say they're concerned that if City of Waterloo dumps its household leaf collection program, the region will have to pick up the tab.

It comes as Waterloo city councillorslook to pare down the cost of the community's curbside leaf collection program in the next budgetafter five years in a row of cost overruns.

• Waterloo councillor wants to discuss cancelling leaf collection

More than 1,000 people responded to an online survey on whether the city should continue with its present citywide efforts, collect leaves at curbside in mature treed neighbourhoods only, or scrap the program altogether.

While most respondents chose to shrink the operating footprint of the citywide program to Waterloo's leafiest neighbourhoods, it's the option to scrap the program, which cost $263,000 last year, that has regional officials worried they could be left with the tab.

"If [the City of Waterloo]stopped collecting indumptrucks, then it would potentially come to us in leaf bags," Cari Howard, the spokeswoman for the Region of Waterloo's waste management programtold CBC News Monday, noting waste collection crews are already inundated by what homeownersbag and leave at the curbside.

"Our contractors really struggle to manage the volume of material," she said. "Of course our first option that we prefer for residents would be mulch up their leaves and use them on their lawn as a free fertilizer."

Waterloo city councillorsbegin their budget process next month and are expected to make a decision on what to do with the city's leaf collection program in the new year.