The city could soon be asking the business community for its thoughts on how to keep commercial waste out of the landfill – and whether that might include separating waste in commercial businesses.

On Monday evening, sustainability manager Shannon Clohosey brought forward the recommendation that staff engage with the business community on the next steps for waste diversion.

It’s a move Coun. Betty Irwin later described as a “no-brainer.” The city should not embark on new regulations that would impact businesses without consultation, she noted.

“We definitely need to have that input,” Irwin said.

The initiative is part of the city’s continuing efforts to keep waste out of the landfill.

Those initiatives include putting out a request for proposals on a residential recycling curbside collection program. That venture would be mandatory for those currently on the city’s garbage and compost collection system.

As Clohosey outlined in her report to council, close to 90 per cent of the waste in the city comes from industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors, as well as the construction and demolition sectors.

“Recognizing this, the 2013 Solid Waste Action Plan focused waste diversion programs and plans on these two sectors,” Clohosey noted in her report.

“The commercial sectors in Whitehorse responded, and much of the increase in waste diversion since 2013 is thanks to the efforts of Whitehorse businesses.”

Among those efforts, some commercial compost collection is underway, and cardboard has been banned from the general landfill.

Clohosey, however, pointed out that more work is needed to keep the significant volume of hazardous materials, organics and recyclables from entering the dump.

“Next steps are required to ensure Whitehorse’s waste diversion rate continues to increase,” Clohosey said.

“Whitehorse businesses have unique challenges and innovative ideas in waste management. Engaging with businesses on next steps will help the city develop the most effective plans and programs for the business sector to continue its waste diversion efforts.”

Separating waste has been shown to be one of more effective ways to keep waste out of the landfill. However, it requires businesses to set up and install areas for waste to be separated, as well as enforcement by the city.

Requiring businesses to separate waste could also benefit those in the waste industry – such as haulers and processors – with the market demand for extra services, thereby providing revenue for the recycling of certain materials, Clohosey stated.

“Engaging with the business community on effective waste management at their place of business will help ensure challenges are addressed and next steps are better tailored to business needs,” she said.

Public engagement on the residential waste front will also continue, Clohosey added.

“Following consultation, amendments to reflect waste management efforts will be drafted to the waste management bylaw for further consideration,” Clohosey stated in her report.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu asked her for further details on the proposed consultation with businesses.

Clohosey said there would be plans to meet with individual business owners along with online initiatives over a couple of months.

“We want to make it as accessible and easy as possible,” she said of receiving input from the business community.

Questioned by Coun. Dan Boyd, Clohosey stressed that keeping certain wastes out of the landfill could be a fairly major undertaking for commercial haulers, though they’re experienced in separating cardboard.

The city is planning to move ahead with its plans to charge haulers $250 per tonne for unsorted loads containing cardboard. However, that has been put off until January 2017, Clohosey pointed out.

Until then, haulers will continue to pay the regular tipping fees (currently $94 per tonne), but will also be warned that cardboard is prohibited from the dump.

Council will vote on whether to go ahead with the consultation next week.

Coun. Samson Hartland and Mayor Dan Curtis were absent from Monday’s meeting, with Coun. Roslyn Woodcock serving as acting mayor.