By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Coaldale moves to three bin curbside waste collection

Mar 13, 2017 | 5:56 AM

COALDALE – The Town of Coaldale is rounding out its waste collection system, adding a third bin for compost collection this spring.
 
Five years ago, the Town started up its curbside recycling program in coordination with its regular waste collection. A motion was approved at the February 27, 2017 Council meeting to begin the final stream of the successful program.
 
Coaldale is among a number of other Alberta communities, including Calgary, Airdrie and Leduc, in starting up a curbside composting program.
 
Cindy L’Hirondelle, development and environmental services manager, says yard waste, food scraps and even other things that can’t already go into the recycling bin, like soiled pizza boxes and tissues, can be placed into the new green bins for pick up.
 
“We’re hoping to reach around the 60-per cent diversion mark… We’re hoping with the people that are really in to it and really diligent with it, they get upwards of that 80-per cent mark,” L’Hirondelle explained, when asked how much garbage will be redirected away from the local landfill.
 
“Of course, that’ll be determined also in the summer. You’ll have your grass clippings and all your trimmings from trees, and all those types of things. So, it’ll be higher in those months.”
 
She went on to note that with tipping fees on the rise, this is also in an effort to save taxpayers a bit of money. The new bins come at no extra cost to Coaldale residents, leaving waste and recycling fees at their current price.
 
The program is mandatory, with all residences eventually receiving a green cart, similar to the blue recycling carts already in use. Even if some people are upset by the change and end up returning the cart, L’Hirondelle says they will not be eligible for any sort of discount on their utility bills.
 
Compost bins will be available to commercial customers, as well.
 
Pick up will be weekly from around March 1 to either the end of October or mid-November, then switching to bi-weekly pick up for the winter months.
 
Coaldale residents will be given more details before the program rolls out some time in May.