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Support for curbside recycling continues to climb in Lethbridge

Feb 26, 2018 | 2:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The appetite for curbside recycling in Lethbridge has increased dramatically over three years, according to a survey conducted by Lethbridge College students.

Starting in 2015, the survey conducted by the college’s Citizen Society Research Lab found a level of support of 34.6-per cent for bi-weekly curbside waste and recycling services. That climbed to 50.6-per cent in 2017, and then jumped to 62.3-per cent in 2018.

The most recent numbers were obtained between Feb. 10-15, as students interviewed 1,288 Lethbridge residents by telephone, under the supervision of CSRL Research Chair, Dr. Faron Ellis.

Taking a closer look at the numbers, the demographics to put the most support behind curbside recycling are women (67.2%), Lethbridge residents between the ages of 30-44 (79.6%), and those who support the NDP both provincially and federally (79.7% and 79%, respectively).

The lowest levels of support came from men (57.8%), individuals with a high school education or less (56.1%), those who support the UCP provincially (54.4%), and the Conservatives federally (55.1%).

When looking at support based on where people live in Lethbridge, the numbers were all very close across the south (60.5%), north (61.3%), and west (63.6%).

The survey follows Lethbridge City Council’s decision to implement a bi-weekly waste and alternate-bi-weekly blue-bin curbside recycling service at an additional cost of $7 per month, per household. It will start with a pilot program this year, expanding to all of Lethbridge in 2019.