Winnipeg ratepayers are bracing for significant increases in sewer and garbage collection fees as the city moves to fund a massive sewage treatment plant upgrade and overhaul its solid waste services.
The City of Winnipeg’s Public Service has recommended substantial increases to sewer volume rates to finance the $3 billion North End Sewage Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) upgrades, a project aimed at meeting environmental compliance and future growth demands.
Without further government funding, sewer volume rates are projected to surge by an average of 35 percent over three years, from 2025 to 2027. This contrasts sharply with the currently approved rate schedule, which averages an eight percent increase.
For a typical family of four, this translates to an average quarterly increase of $35 in 2025, $109 in 2026, and $85 in 2027 for combined water and sewer services.
While the city has secured hundreds of millions in provincial and federal funding, including recent re-pledges, those additional amounts don’t have funding agreements and timing finalized yet, leaving a significant funding gap. City officials emphasize they are actively seeking additional funding to minimize the financial burden on residents.
“The upgrades at NEWPCC are required to ensure the City reaches full compliance with its Environmental Act Licence and meet future development growth demands,” the Public Service stated in its report.
In addition to the sewer rate hikes, the city is proposing a new Waste Management Fee to address the financial sustainability of its solid waste services. Currently, residential garbage collection is funded through property taxes, leading to a projected $28 million deficit in 2025.
The new fee, set to replace the existing Waste Diversion Fee, aims to create a self-supporting model and eliminate the deficit by 2028. It will apply to residential, multi-unit, and small commercial properties that utilize city cart collection services.
The proposed Waste Management Fee will cover a wide range of services, including garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection, green cart purchases, replacement of lost or damaged carts, 4R Winnipeg Depots, bulky waste sweeps, and landfill maintenance.
Residential and small commercial properties can expect quarterly bills of $63.50 starting April 1, 2025, rising to $66 in January 2026, and $68.50 in January 2027. Multi-unit properties will see a quarterly fee of $31.75 per dwelling unit in 2025, increasing to $33.50 in 2026, and $35.75 in 2027.
The Public Service’s administrative report detailing these proposed changes is available through the city’s Decision Making Information System (DMIS). City Council will now review these recommendations and decide on their implementation.
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