Results from a recent municipal survey indicate that residents are overwhelmingly satisfied with Sundre's compost, recycling and garbage cart curbside pickup service.
Jim Hall, operations manager, informed council during its Jan. 23 workshop that about 95 per cent of Sundre's residents use the recycling carts regularly.
When he drove around town after the recycling bins were first rolled out last summer to see how many residents were using them, Hall told the Round Up he was amazed by the number of blue carts he saw along the municipality's curbs.
"We feel that it's very well supported."
However, while people largely said they are really happy with the service, there nevertheless remain some issues and concerns, namely regarding the new scheduled three-week pickup rotation that replaced the former two-week routine, he told officials.
When that change was introduced last June, residents were asked to try out the three-week rotation for a few months and to report any issues to the municipality so staff could keep track of concerns to consider potential solutions, he said.
"At the end of September, we had six residents that contacted the shop's administrator to voice their concern."
But there are others who have shared their complaints directly to members of council as well as on social media. Among the concerns expressed is that the three-week rotation is too long as the compost carts begin to emit foul odors and produce maggots, although the cold winter months reduce those issues, he said.
Additionally, the compost bins fill up quickly during the summer months for some people who put their grass clippings in their bin, and efforts have been made to educate the public about mulching grass to reduce dependency on the bins, he said, adding that information was distributed through the Town of Sundre's newsletter as well as the municipality's website and its weekly ad in the Round Up.
The operations manager then proceeded to present council with a cost difference comparing the current three-week schedule to a two-week rotation with the compost and recycling pickup the same week.
To change that schedule would represent a cost increase of about $45 per household per year. Overall, the municipality would face a cost increase of about $46,000 per year to return to a two-week rotation, he said.
"That would have to be a council review to see if we want to institute that for the resident."
Potential solutions proposed for people whose compost bins fill up before the next scheduled pickup include allowing residents to drop off any excess compostable material at the town's shop, he said.
The shop is located at 5417 Twp. Rd. 325B in Sundre's southwest industrial district along 10th Street.
That service will be available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but should be restricted to use from April to October, depending on the weather. The compost prepared at the town's shop could potentially be redistributed to residents for gardening as well as used by the municipality's own horticultural needs, he said.
"We'll start that this year just so that people who won't mulch can bring it to the shop," he told council.
On average, Hall's family of four, with two cats and two dogs, produces enough waste to fill the garbage container about three-quarters, the compost cart about half full since they mulch their grass clippings, and the recycling bin usually fills up.
"It's quite full but it fits the three-week schedule," he said about the blue cart.
Following Hall's presentation, Coun. Chris Vardas inquired what the cost would be to adjust the schedule to a two-week rotation strictly for the summer months.
As a rough estimate, Vic Pirie, director of finance and administration, suggested halving the increased annual cost estimate of $46,000, which would be about $23,000 for six months.
Mayor Terry Leslie said the municipality is halfway through its first year of studying how well the new curbside recycling program is working out with the existing garbage and compost service to meet residents' needs.
"We'll look to the end of June, and that should give us the data to make decisions about how we're going to modify or change some of the schedule," said Leslie, adding it's encouraging to see that 95 per cent of residents are putting the recycling service to good use.
Anyone with questions or concerns is welcome to contact the town's shop at 403-638-4707.
