It may be a relatively small item in the town's 2018 budget, but for people with large families it could become a major issue.

The first draft of the 2018 town budget calls for reducing black bin, or trash collection, to once every two weeks. In other words, you can accumulate one bag of garbage per week. The recycling bins would continue to be collected weekly and the compost collection will be adjusted seasonally.

Little information on the rationale has been provided by waste and recycling manager Fabrizio Bertolo and he says he won't be providing any until his presentation to council on Nov. 14.  

What can be garnered from the budget information released in rudimentary.

The town has forecasted a $2.32 million budget for solid waste collection, up slightly from last year's $2.25 million. Being a cost recovery service, that's largely fuelled by growth and there's offsetting revenue.

Households are currently allowed to dispose of two bags of trash a week in the black bins and, in theory are required to buy bags for additional trash. The brief footnotes on the sparse budget information provided says a monthly free increase of $1, or $12 per year, would be required to maintain this weekly collection. 

Paige Milner, senior manager of town corporate services, explains all of the contractual and disposal costs for waste, recycling and organics are scheduled to increase in 2018.

The reduction in collection is also seen as another step in the town's zero waste strategy. 

Three public information sessions on the first draft of the town budget are scheduled prior to council's debate.  It's an opportunity to understand what's in the budget and to offer feedback. One is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Visitors Information Centre, 521 1 St. W. from 1 to 3 p.m.. The other two are on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at two different locations: 1 to 3 p.m. at the SLS Family Sports Centre, 800 Griffin Rd. E.; and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cochrane RancheHouse, 101 RancheHouse Rd.