WATERLOO REGION — While some citizens have trashed the idea, politicians are expected to move forward May 26 with cuts to garbage collection in an attempt to encourage green bin use and divert garbage from the landfill.

Coun. Tom Galloway chairs the committee that oversees waste management and says he is endorsing the idea of twice-monthly garbage collection and weekly green bin and recycling pickup.

Staff earlier indicated that as their preferred option.

“There’s no reason to believe that would not be the recommendation but what council does with it on the 26th, that can’t be predicted,” Galloway said.

Coun. Sean Strickland said he will also support that option.

“It will help divert green bin waste that’s currently going to the landfill stream to help extend the life of the landfill,” he said. “The second thing is it’s more environmentally conscientious to have that kind of approach.

“That is the more economic approach as well and should likely save us some dollars on our contract.”

The region has been reviewing two options for garbage collection that would start in 2017 and will debate the issue and vote at a committee meeting May 26.

The option Galloway and Strickland have endorsed would see residents put out green and blue bins each week. Trash would be collected every other week and there would be a limit of up to four bags.

A second option would see trash, green bins and blue bins collected every week but trash bags would be limited up to two.

Jon Arsenault, director of waste management, said feedback has been mixed.

“The most is either for or against one or the other and then there’s some variants off of that, in some cases some people don’t like any of it,” he said.

Arsenault said the program could possibly be phased in to get people used to the new rules.

“There may be a grace period for instance, recognizing that it’s part of the promotion and getting people on board with the new policies,” Arsenault said.

With both options, yard waste would be picked up twice a month from April to November. Large appliances — up to three — would be picked up every two weeks.

Staff say Option 1 could save up to $1.5 million annually. Option 2 could save up to $750,000.

The move would save between one and two years of capacity at the landfill, which is estimated to have up to 20 years left.

With both options, residents would have to pay for extra bags of garbage. But staff are expected to bring forward an exception program for households that may not be able to follow the four-bag limit.

Arsenault said the program would likely be by application.

“Those instances where there’s legitimately more garbage and those items that can’t be put in the green bin or blue box can be dealt with through some sort of exemption program,” he said.

The most common example for exceptions is families with babies.

“You have two kids in diapers, after two weeks your regular household garbage, four bags may not be enough,” Galloway said.

Politicians vote on garbage collection May 26. Though changes won’t go into effect until 2017, the decision is being made now to give collectors time to adapt to the new collection rules.