On October 24, Champlain Township Council approved the Food Cycler pilot project with a vote of 5-3. The decision comes after weeks of debate and an advertising campaign to generate community interest in the products offered.
Following the initial stages of the advertising campaign on social media and the Township’s website, more than ten individuals per day were signing up for pre-registration. As the campaign continued, numbers understandably began to drop. Council received a report that highlighted 102 pre-registered residents had signed up for the $15,000 initiative.
Beginning the conversation after receiving the troubling numbers from the 2025 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) billing statement, Councillor André Roy questioned staff if they had “an idea of the increase in the tax rate for next year.”
Council heard that with the OPP increase alone, residents could expect an increase of 2.36 per cent. Factoring in other projects and expenses in the 2025 budget, including the Food Cycler program, staff explained to council that it could be an estimated rise of 6 or more per cent for taxpayers.
Councillor Gerry Miner then sought clarification as to how much the Food Cycler project would cost, in a percentage amount, for this overall increase, “taking into account the high rates, we have to look at where we can reduce or cut. I have the machine, and it works very well, but $15,250 in added expenses would be difficult to justify.”
Council was presented with the number being 0.19 per cent for the Food Cycler program of the expected 6 or more per cent potential increase.
Acknowledging that the $15,000 might not be a lot on its own, Councillor Paul Burroughs iterated that “it is all these small amounts added that we are going to need to balance in the budget. We have natural ways of doing this here. This program requires the use of electricity to make compost; we can do it in our backyard with a bin. A little bit of effort then, is a natural way can accomplish the objective of this.”
Councillor Sarah Bigelow countered by stating, “I feel like this is something that the residents do want. This is something to show our residents that we are listening and willing to help and trying to help the environment.”
When Councillor Peter Barton asked what the recommendation would be from the staff report, Council was informed that they recommended not proceeding with the program, as the return on the Township’s investment just was not present.
Before the vote, Mayor Normand Riopel said “We’re asking 98.88 per cent of the population to serve the 1.12 per cent of the residents that would take part in the project. They would essentially be receiving a grant from their neighbours.”
Council voted to approve the Food Cycler project in a fairly close vote, with Councillors Roy, Barton, and Burroughs against it.
