CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

City committee moves forward on curbside recycling program

Dec 22, 2016 | 4:29 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Curbside recycling could be coming to Medicine Hat by 2018.

Acting Utilities Commissioner Grayson Mauch said the city is behind the rest of the country when it comes to collection.

“Medicine Hat is currently the only city in Canada’s top 50 by population that does not provide some level of curbside recycling service,” he said.

The Energy and Utilities committee is considering all the options surrounding a curbside recycling program.

“The new system would be a second or third cart,” Mauch said. “It would be a blue cart of similar size to the other carts that customers have been provided.”

The city did a survey with residents last year, asking if they’d like to see a curbside program, with 75 per cent saying yes.

Shirley Grove, dropping off her recycling at the city`s recycling bins at the Medicine Hat Mall, says she welcomes more recycling in the city.

“It’s convenient for most people, they’ll do it if it’s convenient,” . “But I don’t mind. I use to come here all the time, every Sunday kind of thing.

Grove says she’s hired a local business to take away her recycling once a week. But when she forgets to leave it out, she brings it to a recycling depot herself.

Grove said she and her husband are aware of what they buy and if it can be recycled.

“Every little bit helps,” she said. “And if everybody does just a little bit, it makes a huge difference.”

Glen Hammao, who was also dropping off recycling at the mall, agrees with a curbside program.

He said he and his wife entertain a lot and he’s at the recycling depot once a week.

“I would like a big bin, like for our grass and our garbage, ’cause then you can put stuff in and if they pick it up once a week or twice a week, that would probably be sufficient to keep it out of the landfill,” he said.

A big blue bin is exactly what the city has in mind, but the plan right now only looks at bringing them to residential areas.

People living in apartments and condos won’t have the same convenience.

“We will maintain some depots,” Mauch said.

The city has four depots but Mauch said that may be reduced down to two.

The committee agreed with the recommendations and will now move them forward to council.