Changes Made To Okotoks Recycling Program By-Law

Okotoks Town Council has come up with a solution to the ongoing debate on the new recycling program that will be rolling out October 1

Instead of implementing a $7.25 fee for all community residents, the Town will be offering the blue recyclables and green organic carts for no charge for the rest of the year, with the option to opt out of the blue cart in 2017.

Councillor Ed Sands introduced the amendment to By-Law 18-16 surrounding the waste collection utility and says they came to the decision after the information sessions held and public delegations held in council hearing residents concerns behind it.

"There's some concerns with people who didn't want three carts and we listened to the representations at council meetings, we listened to emails to council and concerns at the two open houses and I think we came up with a good compromise," he says.

For those that are subscribed to the program already, there will be no fee changes for 2017 and the blue and green carts will be available at the usual $20.50 a month.

Sands says giving all three carts on a trial basis will allow residents the chance to see the potential behind the additional blue and green carts without any costs for three months.

"It will be free for you to use, Please try the blue cart. If you don't like it by the end of December, if it's too big if you're not using using it and you really like to go down to the EcoCentre to take your recyclables there call us in January 2017 and we'll take the cart back and we won't bill you for it."

Some of the points of discussions made against the program was Okotokians using the EcoCentre as a source of taking their recycling instead of relying on a blue cart.

When it comes to the green cart program, there will be no opt out option for it due to the Town's push to keep less organics out of the landfill.

"Unfortunately we're not allowing an opt out on the green cart, it's so important that we divert the organics from our landfill so important that's a mandatory part of the program."

As 2017 is just a mere three and a half months away Sands says residents who want to keep their  blue carts because they were able to utilize them will receive a charge only then for them.

"I think after you use it for three months you're going to kind of like it and it's like an enhancement to your cable package. Once you watch HBO for three months you're probably going to want to keep subscribing."

The 2nd and 3rd reading of the By-Law was postponed due to the long amendment processto the program Monday night, council will vote on it at their next meeting September 26.

For more details on the amendments see the photo below.