From Jan. 1, 2011, garbage disposal companies and municipalities will have a financial incentive for separating yard waste from garbage taken to transfer stations.

Metro Vancouver has approved a new tipping fee bylaw, upping the current garbage fee from $82 CAD per tonne to $97 per tonne in the new year. Yard waste, including leaves, branches and lawn trimmings will go up by $4 to $63 per tonne. Municipalities in the region are expected to have separate food scrap collection programs in place by the end of next year.

Part of the aim of the rate increase is to encourage people to recycle instead of disposing them as black bag waste.

(Source: Garbage fees on the rise [North Shore News])