Turner Valley is holding off on any plans to enhance recycling in town after learning about Okotoks’ proposal for a regional service.
Despite past discussions to explore using private curbside recycling services, Turner Valley council isn’t making any changes to recycling collection until it sees the results of a regional Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) study proposed by the Town of Okotoks.
Residents in Black Diamond, Turner Valley and the surrounding MD of Foothills currently take their recyclable materials to a facility in Turner Valley. Some pay an outside company for curbside pickup.
“I think we all agree we are prepared to stay status quo right now,” said Mayor Kelly Tuck. “Working with the surrounding area makes sense.”
Rick Quail, Okotoks chief administrative officer, and Paul Lyons, resource recovery manager, presented the MRF plan to councils in Turner Valley, Black Diamond, High River, Nanton and the MD of Foothills last month in an attempt to gain each council’s consent for the Foothills Regional Services Commission to conduct a business case study.
The study will identify the best options for the region to collect and manage recyclable materials and determine estimated costs associated with it.
Turner Valley council passed a motion supporting the proposal last month.
“As you saw in that presentation that Paul and Rick came in and gave us, there are opportunities that I expect will present themselves this year,” Dona Fluter, Turner Valley councillor and member of the Foothills Regional Services Commission, said at Town council’s Jan. 4 meeting.
During a council meeting last month, Fluter had asked administration to draw up a report outlining what Town receives when it sells recyclable materials.
Barry Williamson, Turner Valley chief administrative officer, said the return on recyclables is declining.
“Even though our product numbers are going up we aren’t getting the value because the prices are not there,” he said. “We are doing it to keep it out of the landfill.”
The proposed regional recycling facility is expected to save costs in processing and transportation, and will allow participating municipalities to collect and process recyclables locally, eliminating third parties.
Fluter said the Foothills Regional Services Commission is ready for some changes at the landfill.
“It’s really a recovery centre and recycling is the direction we would like to see the landfill commission going,” she said. “That discussion needs to happen. We are past the days of being a landfill.”
Fluter added she sees great potential for a more regional service and agrees the Town should hold off on its own research to improve recycling services in the Turner Valley area.
“I would rather see us do it right than do it quickly,” she said. “We want to make sure we are getting our best bang for our buck.
“Part of it is working together, which is what’s been done in the past, and optimize what we can do to get our material.”
The overall goal is to minimize waste, said Fluter.
“There are too many other alternatives instead of putting it into the ground,” she said. “Our landfill has got a capacity, depending on how you look at it, the reality I would say is we’ve got at least 80 years. Given the goal we’re taking here to recycle and possibly to join into SAEWA (Southern Alberta Energy-from-Waste Association) we could expand the life of our landfill facility for way beyond that.”
