A city hall committee has approved a proposal for curbside pickup of recyclables and organic waste from Calgary homes, starting in 2009.

Homeowners currently pay an average of $3 a month for garbage pickup and can take their recycling material to bins at community depots or hire a private company to do it.

The proposed cost for the pickup would be $21 a month, which would cover garbage, recyclables and organic waste.

City council still has to approve the proposal.

Aldermen who support the idea say Calgary is far behind other municipalities when it comes to recycling, with too many recyclables and too much organic waste going into landfills.

People who move to the city say they can't believe Calgary doesn't pick up recycling, said Ald. Gord Lowe.

"This is the single biggest request I get in my office and it has been for the last five years."

Organic pickup is the most important part of the proposed program, said Ald. Druh Farrell.

"Although it looks like leaves and organics, it doesn't compost in the landfill. It actually creates methane gas, which is the most damaging product that comes out of our landfill."

Ald. Ric McIvor is concerned about the price tag. "Seniors and single-income families having $21 added onto their monthly bill — that's, you know, 250 bucks a year roughly. There are people in this city that that's going to hurt."