Photo of the yard waste site sign (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

By Justin Goulet

City aims to open yard waste sites on May 4

Apr 22, 2020 | 12:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge’s seasonal yard waste sites are set to open next month.

The opening of the sites has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re now planned to open on Monday, May 4, according to Waste and Recycling Service general manager Joel Sanchez.

“Over the next two weeks, we’re going to be re-hiring the seasonal staff that work at the yard waste site,” he said at Lethbridge City Hall on Wednesday morning.

“We’re going to be doing the training required, not only for their normal duties, what they regularly do, but also training related to COVID – in terms of how to handle the situation at the sites and how to maintain the physical distance that we need in order to provide the services.”

Additionally, restrictions at the Waste and Recycling Centre (landfill) will be lifted to allow for public drop-off, starting on May 4^th.

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Sanchez said it’s still recommended that residents only visit the site if absolutely necessary.

“This is not an opportunity to get out of the house and to go outside only with one bag,” he said.

Details of the new restrictions at the yard waste area include:

· Open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

· Self-service; this means residents must be able to unload their own material

· Residents are being asked to put materials in paper bags to avoid having to de-bag items from plastic bags. The city says this will help speed up the drop-off process and limit physical contact between staff and members of the public

· Only one customer will be allowed at the compacter at a time

· Only one customer will be allowed at the branch chipper at a time

· The line-up to access the site will be managed by on-site staff to ensure proper physical distancing is maintained at all times

Changes to Waste and Recycling Centre operations are as follows:

· Open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

· Residents with yard waste will be directed to the compost pad for unloading

o Self-service sites, meaning residents must be able to unload their own material

o Residents are asked to put materials in paper bags

o There will be a maximum of two customers unloading branches at a time

o There will be a maximum of two customers unloading yard waste at a time

o Unloading stall will be created to ensure proper physical distancing at all times

· Residents with waste and recycling will be directed to the Public Drop-off (PDO) area

o There will be a maximum of one customer per bin or table at a time

o Additional customers will queue after the scale at the entrance to the PDO area

o Every second unloading stall will be closed for appropriate physical distancing

· Regular tipping fees apply, but only credit or debit payments will be accepted

Until Monday, May 4, the city’s Waste and Recycling Centre (landfill) continues to operate for essential loads only. Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Lethbridge 311.

Residents are asked to contact 311 before visiting the landfill, and 311 staff will pre-screen to make sure that the waste can be accepted.