Lacombe has dropped a controversial plan to replace dozens of communal garbage bins with smaller rollout versions.
Under the city’s new Solid Waste Roadmap, a pilot project was proposed earlier this year to replace 60 of the bins with 240 rollout versions.
Replacing all of the city’s roughly 600 bins with rollouts was expected to take about 10 years, and when complete was estimated to add another $3.30 to monthly utility bills.
The scheme drew criticism from a number of residents, who argued the smaller bins would be costly, inconvenient and prove a nuisance for seniors.
Council opted last month to keep the current mix of rollout bins and communal dumpsters. New subdivisions will get rollout bins.
A blue box recycling program was also approved for all residential areas of the city. To address resident concerns, pickup will happen in back alleys in some areas.
The recycling program will cost residents about $3.40 more on their monthly utility bills.
Lacombe is also expanding its green bin composting program by adding 50 bins at various locations around the community next year.