The City of Lacombe is giving its residents plenty of opportunities to talk trash this summer.
A public engagement process was presented to council on Monday that aims to get viewpoints of as many residents as it can on the town’s Solid Waste Roadmap, an initiative that outlines various measures to recycle and reduce waste.
Council decided it needed to hear more from residents after council chambers was recently packed with about 70 people, many of whom spoke against a planned pilot project to replace 60 of the large community garbage bins with 240 rollout models geared to single households.
Some of those opposed argued that the roll-out bins would be inconvenient, costly, difficult to manoeuvre in winter conditions, and could prove a nuisance for seniors.
Replacing all of the city’s roughly 600 bins with rollouts was expected to take about 10 years.
Mayor Steve Christie said the city already has feedback from about 350 residents, counting those who offered their thoughts before the Solid Waste Roadmap was adopted last year.
Christie said he hopes to hear from many more.
“I think it’s been a very hot button issue in Lacombe,” he said, adding the response was unexpected.
“I want as much feedback as we can get.”
In coming weeks, residents will be encouraged to voice their opinions either online or by filling out cards that will be available at various public events.
A Citizen Satisfaction Survey will include six questions related to solid waste collection and disposal. City infrastructure staff will also be on hand one day a week from May through July at the Wolf Creek Recycle Site to talk to residents and hand out surveys. A barbecue is also proposed at the site to encourage more people to come out and voice their opinions.
A pair of public open houses are also planned in June and late August.
Residents will also be asked their opinion through utility bill inserts and can speak to city staff at the local farmer’s market. More opinions will be solicited through ads on the side of garbage trucks that encourage residents to go to the city’s website.