Recycling changes won’t disrupt services

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At the March 24 meeting of town council, Waste Services Manager Lisa DeBona presented updates about extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycling. EPR is applicable to producers of single use items, packaging, and paper products in the province. After the Alberta government passed new regulations for EPR, it shifted the financial and operational responsibility of recycling programs to the producers – instead of the municipality or its residents through utility costs.

 The council meeting agenda said that the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) has been tasked with overseeing and managing the system so that producers fulfill their obligations in the system. An updated model will be similar to the one that requires separation of paint, tires, oil, electronics etc.

 “Currently we pay a contractor to collect our recycling,” DeBona said. “That will not change, except for we won’t be paying them.”

 Circular Materials is a company that ARMA has contracted to liaise with all the municipalities and contractors for recycling services. First it will work with towns and cities that currently have curbside collection; after that it will focus on smaller communities without depots.

 Other changes will likely include improved methods of collecting hard-to-handle items like batteries and glass. For Town of Taber residents, there won’t be much of a noticeable change, but the following can be noted:

-collection for residents will still occur every two weeks.

-each residential unit in Town will have access to recycling whether by cart or by depot.

-there will be a change in who the residents contact to deal with any issues with collection. If a cart needs repairs was missed, requests will now be handled directly by the collection contractor and not the Town. Residents can still contact the Town for information and assistance, and the Town will still be promoting and educating via social media and informational materials sent out.

-there will be a reduction in Town staff time delivering or repairing the recycling carts. They will still deal with compost and waste carts.

-there will be a reduction in operating expenses due to the Town no longer being responsible for the cost of residential recycling.

-there will still be a cost for commercial recycling.

-the Town will be compensated for a portion of its depot collection costs, as well as its promotional and educational expenses, and cart assets.

-the administration has been working on individual contracts regarding the compensation and purchases of assets with Circular Materials. A detailed breakdown of costs and revenues was attached in the agenda.

 The final steps in the changeover mean the Town will review its fee bylaw in regard to the residential recycling monthly fee (whether or not to remove it), as well as to review the Town’s Waste, Recycling and Composting Material. Council accepted DeBona’s report as information.