Homeowners who don’t already have blue recycling bins will have the choice to keep it that way.
Town council decided not to make blue bins mandatory for single-family homeowners as it approved a new waste management bylaw Monday afternoon in response to months of negative, angry feedback from residents opposed to the proposal.
Opposition was centered on a plan to make curbside collection mandatory and an additional $7.25 per month cost for households that weren’t already signed up for recycling collection. Those who currently use the blue bin would see no change.
Amendments to the plan approved Monday include a mandatory three-month trial period, free of charge, for those not currently signed up for curbside recycling. Anyone who does not want to continue can choose to opt out from the blue cart service only between Jan. 1, 2017 and Feb. 28, 2017. However, any residents who move to a new home within Okotoks will be required to take part in both the blue and green cart programs.
“You can never satisfy 100 per cent of the people 100 per cent of the time,” said Okotoks mayor Bill Robertson. “But that being said, we want to find compromises as much as possible to find solutions that work for our residents.”
To balance operating costs of the Town’s eco centre and waste management services, single-family households who choose to opt out, multi-family dwellings and commercial and institutional buildings will also see an increase in their environmental services fee from $3.25 (currently included in the $20.50 waste management fee) to $5.25.
Council voted five to one in favour of the amended program, with Coun. Rockley being the sole vote against. Rockley proposed a motion to make both the blue and green cart services be subscription-based, which was defeated.
“One size doesn’t fit all,” he said. “I don’t see the need to roll it out as a universal program. I think we can have the same level of diversion and success with people choosing which option works best for them.”
Rockley said the new program had become too complicated and almost difficult to understand.
Coun. Ed Sands didn’t agree. He asked council to approve the waste services implementation plan with amendments suggested by Town staff. In addition to the opt-out provision, multi-family developments will come on board sooner than originally planned.
He said it’s important residents get to try household recycling, but they should have the opportunity to opt out if they find the program doesn’t work for them.
“To not implement changes to this system as proposed is not listening to our residents, to implement nothing is my greatest fear, that government sits on its hands,” said Sands. “We are responsive to community concerns and I believe we move forward in a responsible overall waste management philosophy. I don’t agree for an instant we’re trying to win awards. This program is, by any measure, catch-up.”
Sands said the issue is one of the most contentious he’s seen in his 21 years on Okotoks town council, which he has found surprising.
Through consultation and surveys, an enhanced waste service plan including organics and blue cart recycling was something widely requested by residents, he said.
“It seemed to be a straightforward enhancement and I’m surprised it got this way,” said Sands. “But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world, we can look at changes in six months.”
The Town will monitor the waste services plan over its first six months and report to council in the spring to identify any issues with the program as it has been approved, and to determine how the waste management program moves ahead in the future. Suggestions by council for future direction include picking up black bins only biweekly, or implementing a pay-per-use program.
Former councillor Naydene Lewis, who oversees the Okotoks Foothills Region VIEWS & NEWS on Facebook, had been outwardly opposed to the waste management plan as it was presented, but said she left the Sept. 12 council meeting happy with the compromises council made.
“This whole issue getting so out of control was never about the people not wanting to recycle or compost,” said Lewis. “It was the way this was brought forward that wasn’t really great.”
She said many residents felt they were being punished and dictated to, but the new program allows people to have their say, which will remove a lot of tension among Okotoks citizens.
“This gives people a choice,” said Lewis. “It’s all we were looking for, was a choice.”
People may get used to the three-cart system over the three-month free trail period and decide they enjoy the convenience when they see their garbage further reduced, she said. At that point, some may feel the $7.25 isn’t so bad, while others may choose to continue using the eco centre instead.
Overall, she said she’s pleased to know council took resident concerns into account while discussing how the program will roll out.
“They listened to the people,” said Lewis. “That is very important to get out there. They listened, and they’re moving forward.”
Residents can expect to see their blue and green carts delivered within the next two weeks, with recycling and organics collection beginning Oct. 1.
Town council will hear second and third reading of the waste management services bylaw on Sept. 26.
