When the county’s waste bylaw comes up for a final vote at county council’s meeting next Thursday, there is likely to be a debate on whether Orangeville has approved it, as well as a specific population count.

The county takeover of solid household waste requires a triple majority vote. As part of that, a majority of the lower tier must be in support and that majority must represent more than half the electors in the county.

If Orangeville by then has not approved it – although Mayor Rob Adams says the town has never opposed it – the county bylaw would be doomed. Town clerk Cheryl Johns said Wednesday her council won’t be dealing with the bylaw until it meets on Sept. 12, too late for the county meeting.

In the meantime, Shelburne council might have unwittingly opened a can of worms when it voted to amend the county’s waste bylaw to allow inclusion of an “eco fee” for use of the proposed energy-from-waste plant at Dufferin Eco Energy Park (DEEP).

As of Monday night, Shelburne council reversed its stance on an eco fee. But that might have locked the stable after the horse was stolen as the proposed Shelburne amendment had prompted East Garafraxa to include another one by which it has effectively rejected the county’s takeover of collection and disposal of household solid wastes.

The Shelburne one would have made the DEEP proposal more palatable to those with doubts it would work, says Mayor Ed Crewson. But East Gary Mayor Allen Taylor said Wednesday it was the Shelburne move that sent the proposal off the tracks for his council.

Although the township motion to offer its waste to the DEEP but retain control of collections passed 4-1 in a recorded vote, it was not clear whether the council intended to reject the county bylaw on waste.

Mayor Taylor said some councillors were of the opinion that if Shelburne could suggest an amendment, they were free to do the same. Although East Gary effectively in opposition to county management of the household solid waste stream, it appears that the majority of the lower tier is in support.

But, if Orangeville’s council is not clearly in favour, it is doubtful the majority of municipalities would represent a sufficient electorate to carry the day.