Owners of commercial buildings or multi-family properties with more than three dwellings who were still getting their garbage service through the Town of Innisfail won't anymore starting April 1.
An updated solid waste bylaw meant to "clean up inconsistencies" was approved during council Feb. 13.
The biggest change in the update was clarifying what buildings should and shouldn't receive garbage pickup through the town explained Darryl Joyce, director of corporate and protective services.
"We've been inconsistent as far as the pickup in town. The vast majority of commercial properties in town have their commercial pickup through one of the private service providers yet the town still seemed to be picking up for a number of commercial properties as well," he explained. "Part of the amendment was clarification that the town was not in the business of commercial garbage pickup anymore."
Commercial property is defined as lands used for the direct retaining of goods or provision of services to the final consumer, including but not limited to multi-family dwellings consisting of more than three units, federal and provincial, institutional buildings, churches and schools.
"We get into multi-family unit again there was inconsistency as far as what was happening in the community. Ö Again, in most cases, they're getting commercial pickup from one of the private providers and yet there were some fourplexes still getting services from the town," said Joyce.
He estimates in excess of 70 to 80 per cent of owners for commercial and multi-family buildings were getting their garbage pickup done privately already.
Still, since council passed the bylaw and letters have been sent out, both Joyce and Mayor Jim Romane have been fielding "a number of calls" from concerned commercial owners.
"Most concerns were around the change in commercial pickup," said Romane of phone calls. He said council has debated over the amendments for the last six months trying to determine where to level the definition.
"We're not equipped to handle it all and it isn't fair to the taxpayer to carry the burden," he said, adding he didn't feel it was fair some businesses were paying for their own garbage pickup service while others weren't.
"For a lot of people it could be a matter of working with other businesses to share the cost of the service," he said, hoping to open dialogue with some of the people who have expressed their concerns.
The monthly rate for waste collection through the town is $16, with a maximum of three bags, with an additional cost of $1 per every extra bag. The cost of green box recycling is $2. Waste and yard receptacles and the contents can't weigh any more than 50 pounds with a volume of no more than 17 gallons.
