SUNDRE – It’s not easy – or necessarily cost effective for that matter – being green.
Although the town’s blue bin recycling program will remain unchanged, the municipal council recently approved Mountain View Regional Waste Management Commission’s revised service agreement announcing its intent to withdraw from its oversight role that also involved collecting materials from the region’s eight unmanned recycling stations.
The commission – which is made up of representatives from area municipalities including Mountain View County, the towns of Olds, Sundre, Didsbury, Carstairs, and the Village of Cremona – had previously asked its member councils to consider ending the recycling station service after officials said the market for many of the recycled items was no longer financially viable.
The decision will only affect the recycling operations of the transfer stations, including the site located south of Highway 27 at Range Road 51 in Mountain View County near Sundre. After August 1, the bins will be removed and the commission’s oversight role will end.
“There are no changes to the Town of Sundre’s blue bin recycling program,” Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer.
Mayor Richard Warnock previously told the Albertan earlier this year that the commission’s transfer stations – including the one near Sundre – will remain open for people who for example need to dispose of either hazardous household waste such as batteries and old fridges or even excess refuse.
“That’s not up for discussion,” he said during a January interview in response to being asked to confirm whether the transfer station would remain open.
However, in light of the latest move, the recycling services at the transfer stations for items such as glass, cardboard, tins and plastics will cease.
“This was looked at extensively by the municipalities on the waste commission to decide whether there was other options,” Warnock said during a council discussion about the matter at the regular May 8 meeting.
If there was more of a market for recyclable materials that were then actually getting recycled, the service would be more viable and able to continue, he said.
“But because it’s ending up in the landfill at an increased cost to residents in the entire waste commission district, this is why this change is being made,” he said, adding the decision is not necessarily permanently etched into stone.
“Of course, it can be changed back if there is a market or something in the future to where that situation changes,” he said.
Coun. Jaime Marr said she struggled with the issue from the time it was first brought up.
“I just think it’s sad to see this go,” said Marr, adding there were also issues of contamination resulting in entire recycling hauls being diverted to landfill.
“At the end of the day, really the users themselves have made this happen, and I think it’s really frustrating,” she said. “You can’t just be paying money for a service that’s not being utilized. I support this decision begrudgingly.”
Council unanimously carried a motion approving the commission’s revised waste services agreement.
