Environment Days give residents a chance to drop off hazardous waste.
Toronto City Council has voted to spare Environment Days from the budget chopping block, with councillors agreeing to kick in money from their own office budgets to make sure the annual events are kept in all 44 wards across the city.
The events are run by the city's solid waste division and paid for through garbage fees. They are a chance for residents to drop off hazardous waste such as old paint tins and batteries and pick up new compost or recycling bins from the city.
Staff recommended reducing the number of days to 11 to save money.
Those that supported the move characterized it as a necessary part of the city's push to focus on core services. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday argued his council colleagues were intent on protecting the days in every ward, not for the convenience of residents, but because they are a handy vehicle for self-promotion.
As a compromise, Councillor David Shiner suggested a number of measures so that all 44 days could be held for the price of 11. Under the plan, they will cost $122,500, or about a quarter of the amount budgeted for the days this year.
The cost-saving measures include reducing the number of staff at each event, eliminating duty officers at the sites and having local councillors pick up part of the promotion of the events from their office budgets. In total, councillors will put in $22,000.
"I found a way to deliver 44 environment days for the cost of 11. I think that is fantastic," Councillor Shiner said, adding he hopes the compromise will be an example for other cost-cutting challenges.
Council also gave its approval Tuesday to the city's 2012 solid waste management budget, which freezes residential charges but does away with the four free tags given annually to households. Under the new budget, charities, places of worship and other non-profit or community groups will no longer get free collection. Commercial rates will be phased in for these properties beginning next year.