Winkler residents could see their waste collection rates go up. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, Council held a public hearing, and passed first reading, of a revised bylaw that seeks to adjust the numbers.

City Manager, Jody Penner, noted the rate charged to taxpayers for residential garbage, recycling and compost pick-up has remained the same for a number of years. 

"Now, we're just reflecting the increased costs that we've had over the last couple of years and just getting that up to date," he added. 

According to the revised bylaw, those rates would increase $25 from $135 per residence to $160, effective the 2024 tax year. It will also allow Council to keep up with the rising cost of waste collection and implement further increases.

"That rate could go as high as $250 by the end of the bylaw term, which is 2028, but it won't go that high if our costs don't increase that much," noted Penner. "It just gives us the flexibility to keep up."

The bylaw still needs to go through two more readings at Council before it can take effect. 

With files from Pam Fedack