Red Deerians have a couple more weeks to exchange their waste carts for a different size before a $50 fee is applied.
The new handling fee kicks in as of Feb. 1 to cover staff time and transportation costs for the picking up and dropping off of replacement larger or smaller carts.
Utilities manager Jim Jorgensen said stolen or vandalized carts will still be replaced at no cost to the homeowner.
Red Deer’s waste cart program was called “a wonderful success” at Monday’s council meeting. Jorgensen told council it’s already helped the city surpass its waste diversion goal and is reducing strain on the landfill.