Okotoks rolls out new changes and makes their cart program “universal”
Posted Sep 14, 2016 8:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There will soon be a black, blue and green cart and every household in Okotoks, thanks to changes being made by town council.
Okotoks will be moving forward on October 1 with changes they say are a result of community feedback.
Starting next week, the green carts will be delivered to all-single family households and blue recycling carts will be delivered to single-family households that aren’t subscribed to the current recycling program.
They’ll be using the carts the first week of October at the same location, either the curb or the alley.
There are currently 67 per cent of Okotoks single-family households taking part in the recycling program, for those individuals there will be no changes for the rest of 2017.
Single-family households that aren’t subscribed to the blue cart program will have to opportunity to use one at no charge for the months of October, November and December.
Waste Services Manager Paul Lyons says the goal is for the town to reach an 80 per cent diversion rate.
“The green cart program is one of the only programs of its kind that will allow the town to increase diversion which has been currently stagnant in the high thirties, low forties,” he said. “According to different bodies of work that have done work with organics, they have seen that it can constitute anything from 42 to 60 per cent of general waste.”
Households who don’t want to be part of the program after the three month trial have until February 28th to opt out.
“The research that we’ve done indicates this is one of the few programs that will enable us to divert more waste from our landfills, it’s critical that we do so,” he said. “We’re really asking residents to try this program and rate the convenience.”
“We’re asking for people’s support as we roll this program out.”
Town administration will be working on a report for council in six months with a review of the program.
