With rising costs to expand the local landfill, the City of Winkler is providing more composting options.

Compost bins are expected to be delivered to all Winkler residents by June.

City Council will be purchasing additional charcoal filters for the bins to cut down on smells.

Instructions will be included in the bins, including the materials that can be composted such as food waste and paper towel.

"As residents, we all need to learn how to handle it, and hopefully the instructions will be very clear when we get the bins," Winkler Mayor Martin Harder says.

While the city is looking at reducing the garbage bag limit to one, per week, Harder says it's important to put things in perspective in terms of long-term benefits and savings.

"We are in the process of adding a $1.2 million cell that may last up to ten years, and then we have to do it all over again," Harder says. "If we are going to be composting and doing it properly... it would likely extend the life of the cell at least by 50 percent."

The SWAMP board recently awarded the tender for expansion, creating the landfill's 5th cell since opening in 1996.

For those who need to put out an additional garbage bag on occasions, such as holidays, the city offers five tags for $10.

"It's not that you can't put out two or three garbage bags if you have to," Harder says.

The business community has also been warming up to the idea of privatizing commercial and industrial waste pick-up.

Harder says it's encouraging to see businesses take more responsibility when it comes to reducing waste.

"You take a look at the volume of waste that is produced commercially, whether it's restaurants, lumber yards, or any other manufacturing facility, if we can remove that from the landfill and compost or recycle that, it would be ideal."

The SWAMP Landfill is adding a $1.1 million cell expansion