The City of Humboldt and REACT Waste Management are preparing to enter a joint venture that will provide important information when it comes to spiralling costs of waste removal and the current challenges in recycling. At its monthly meeting, City Council approved the application for a grant that could provide up to 75% of a study on cost recovery and program feasibility. REACT’s participation is subject to its board’s approval which may be granted at its meeting on February 26. 

REACT had proposed a sizeable increase in charges to the City for its automated curbside pickup program. Part of the rationale for that jump was an increase in the costs of services the equipment and the program. However, the majority of the increase was based on REACT’s lost revenues from recycling, a situation that has its origins in a global waste management crisis. 

In response to the situation, REACT embarked on discussions to cooperate with the City of Humboldt on a study project where the potential existed for funding support of up to 75 percent. REACT serves 48 municipalities, but as Humboldt has by far the largest population and service base, REACT engaged the City of Humboldt’s support.

The application for a Targeted Sector Support Initiative (TSS) Grant could see $75,000 of the proposed $100,000 cost of the study provided by the provincial government. The idea is that the balance, $25,000, would be divided equally by REACT and the City. The City’s portion would come from its reserves. 

City Council approved the application and the expenditure for the balance of the study cost. 

As for any cost increases stemming from REACT’s earlier proposal, Deputy Mayor Lorne Pratchler says that’s on hold.

“We are working with REACT to find a long term solution for their costs and how we, as the largest municipality falling under REACT, will be able to bear that.” 

The proposed study would hopefully look into REACT’s viability in the future as the two agencies, like so many other jurisdictions, try to come up with sustainability and cost-effective methods of dealing with waste disposal.