There's an extra levy businesses have to pay for recycling services, and some fear it may mean some smaller businesses use the garbage and not the blue box.

It is not the case for at least one local restaurant owner who takes it upon himself to be as green as he can.

"All our milks and our creams all come from containers. The wine is all in bottles so there's quite a lot of recycling to do in a restaurant," explains Chef Justin Bohemier.

He's the owner of La P'tite France. His eatery only seats a couple of dozen customers but the chef says his business accumulates a lot of waste, especially during the holiday season.

He makes it a point to be environmentally conscious, but at his own expense, and on his own time.

"We can't really afford to have the system come here so we end up loading our blue boxes and putting them in the trunks of our car and bringing them back home," explains Bohemier.

Bohemier fears many restaurants like his may not recycle, and believes the city should do more to make that happen. He suggests free recycling for businesses.

"I think it's something they should or could provide for us," he says.

The city of Winnipeg says if a business generates less than three cubic metres of garbage per-week it could receive garbage and recycling collection for about $25 to $35 a month.

But if the business generates more waste than that it would have to look at private recycling contractors.

The province says it will launch a new initiative to increase recycling at businesses in the New Year.

The city is looking at possibly implementing a user pay program which would mean people and business would have to pay for their garbage.

The user pay program would be an incentive for people to recycle.

City of Winnipeg Solid Waste Services Division Manager Darryl Drohomerski says there are no concrete plans yet. "We expect to do something in the springtime, now whether or not it will actually result in user pay program or not, we're not sure, can't comment, it's up to council to decide," said Drohomerski.

So for now it's up to individuals and businesses to be environmentally responsible, but right now there is no financial incentive to do so, in fact it costs more to recycle.

With a report from CTV's Shaneen Robinson