On the same day Halifax Regional Councillors approved a deal to build a $500 million convention centre in downtown Halifax, they also approved a waste management study and postponed a decision on the Solar City project.

Council earmarked $400,000 for the waste management study which is expected to cover all aspects of the system including legislation, collection, landfills, composting and public education.

The study is the reason Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown) did not pursue her request for a plastic bag ban in HRM, as the study will also take recycling into account.

“If people would actually recycle properly and store their garbage properly, and not litter, than we probably would have people like myself and others saying ban the bags,” Sloane told the Rick Howe Show in June.

She said there needs to be more discussion about recycling and people not taking care of their properties.

The Chronicle Herald reported city staff said the study is likely to only cost between $200,000 and $300,000, but council has earmarked the larger amount.

On another business matter, staff also made a recommendation to cancel the Solar City project which would have helped homeowners install panels on up to a thousand homes for heating hot water.

The first application for funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities was denied, but a second application is pending with a decision due as early as September.

Council voted unanimously in favour of putting off its decision until October.