By CHAT News Today

City releases more information on curbside recycling

Feb 21, 2018 | 10:03 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — After months of planning and speculation, the city has now released more details about its curbside recycling program.

Information about the program was provided Wednesday morning at City Hall.

The program, which will be run by Can Pak Environmental, will get underway later this spring, though an exact date is not yet known. The city will be delivering approximately 23,000 blue carts to single family homes and smaller multi-family residences (4-plexes and lower) which already have a grey household waste cart.

“For the most part, we hear that residents are excited about this program, they’re anticipating this program and most people just want to know when it will begin,” said Brian Murphy, general manager of environmental utilities.

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The City said the bins will be delivered to homes starting in late spring and the program should be fully operational by July. Collection will occur on the same day homes are scheduled to get their garbage picked up.

“As soon as you receive your new cart, we encourage you to start using it and start setting it out as soon as it fills up,” said Murphy.

The city said the net cost to residents will be less than $6/ month, which will be included on their utility bills. The final rate will be set by council in the spring. There is no opting out of the program. Residents won’t be charged the fee until they have their blue bins delivered.

Residents will be able to recycle aluminum and tin cans, beverage containers, cardboard, mixed paper and plastic in the blue carts. Glass bottles and jars are not allowed in the blue carts, but can be recycled at a recycling depot.

Randy Wong, Can Pak Environmental’s general manager, said based on experience from other municipalities with recycling programs, it’s safer to keep glass out of the bins.

“The biggest thing is the safety of our employees,” explained Wong. “The guys do wear gloves that are cut resistant, but we know that that’s not always going to stop everything. So, the less handling of the glass the better for our guys.”

The recycling depots across the city will remain operational at this time for residents who don’t have curbside service. The city may review the need for some of them in the future.

Wong adds Can Pak will likely add around ten new employees to drive the collection trucks and work on the sorting line.

Council voted to implement the program last January. Information about the program will be provided at the Sunshine Home and Garden Show March 2-4, as well as information session on April 11 at the Family Leisure Centre and April 12 at Hillcrest Church. Both sessions in April run from 4-7 p.m.

More information about the program can also be found at www.medicinehat.ca/recycle