To the citizens of Lacombe: Did you know that the proposed changes to garbage collection in the City of Lacombe affect every residence?
Household garbage: Residents who currently have communal alley dumpsters are facing replacement of dumpsters with individual black rollout bins, which according to the Solid Waste Roadmap (SWRM) will cost you approximately $3.50 per month per household. According to Bylaw 316, these rollouts “shall be stored within the property in such a manner as to not be unsightly in appearance.”
Recycling: In order to encourage more people to recycle, the SWRM is also recommending a blue tote rollout for each residence of approximately 300-litre size, using a third party contractor for collection, at an estimated cost of $8 per month per household for weekly pickup, or $6 per month per household for biweekly pickup. As well, the SWRM states that with the introduction of blue tote rollouts, the Wolf Creek Recycle Depot could be used solely for brush and wood chips rather than household recyclables. This means that city and county residents who currently use this facility would no longer have that option.
Composting: The SWRM suggests that the current “grass bins” could become “compost bins” and accept everything from yard waste to food waste. There is a concern with odour and pests should this go forward.
In order to deal with the compost material, the city proposes to purchase a “HotRot” system to process the compost at an initial capital investment of $528,400. This system operates only above -15C and would be purchased from New Zealand (only two currently in use in North America). Estimated increase to utility bills is unknown at this time.
Those households currently using rollouts are affected by having a garbage rollout, a recycling rollout, with it being unknown at this time as to how composting will be instituted in their areas.
At the city’s barbecue on June 28, large green rollouts for composting were on display.
It should be noted that the rollouts must be placed at least two metres apart for pickup, must not weigh more than 75 pounds and the bin lids must be totally closed or they will not be picked up. The SWRM also states that by having every household separate their garbage from recycling and composting, there could be a possibility of changing to biweekly pickup.
Every household in the City of Lacombe is impacted by these proposed changes. If you are concerned about losing your back alley dumpster to rollouts, it is imperative that you do the survey presented by the city — either online at lacombe.ca/garbage or in hard copy, which can be picked up at the city office. Please — do the survey!
The survey needs to be completed well before the end of August. The survey results will be presented with recommendations to city council at their meeting on Sept. 9, which starts at 5 p.m.
Let’s be present at the meeting — your attendance is important!
Louise Pickett
and Margaret Garrett
Lacombe