By Town of Ponoka

minimizing confusion

Ponoka simplifies garbage, recycling pickup schedules

Nov 14, 2019 | 8:14 PM

Beginning January 1, 2020, the Town of Ponoka curbside waste collection schedule will be simplified in order to streamline the collection service and minimize confusion over which carts to place at the curb each week.

“Beginning January 1, residents will be asked to place their grey carts and green carts at the curb on the same week. Recycling will be picked up the following week,” says Tim Schmidt, General Manager of Planning and Infrastructure for the Town of Ponoka.

He notes that both recycling and green carts will be picked up on the alternate weeks during the summer when green carts are emptied every week.

Modified Schedule to Reduce Confusion and Streamline Collection

“This modification to the collection schedule is intended to reduce some of the confusion we hear from residents who phone the Town for clarification on which bin to place at the curb each week,” explains

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Schmidt, pointing out that the 2019 curbside collection schedule currently requires grey carts and green carts to be placed at the curb on opposite weeks.

The schedule change will also increase efficiency and streamline trucking requirements for waste collection during the summer. “During this past summer, the old schedule required three trucks to collect grey carts, green carts and recycling one week, and only one truck the following week to empty green carts,” says Schmidt.

“This created scheduling challenges for the contractor and resulted in confusion and phone calls from residents who were concerned their waste and recycling was not being picked up when they would see one of the collection trucks drive past their home without stopping,” he explains.

New Schedule Facilitates Snow Removal

The new 2020 curbside collection schedule will only require a maximum of two trucks to collect curbside waste or recycling each week. The modified schedule will also facilitate snow removal on the weeks when recycling is collected, as the bags of recycling are not placed on the roadway.

“There are no other changes to the 2020 Waste Collection Calendar. The collection zones and collection days all remain the same,” says Schmidt.

2020 Waste Collection Calendar to be Mailed Out with Utility Bills in December

The new 2020 Waste Collection Calendar will be mailed to all Ponoka residents with their utility bills in December. Copies of the 2020 Waste Collection Calendar will also be posted on the Town website in December at www.ponoka.ca (click on ‘Community’ on the top menu bar, and then click ‘Recycling, Disposal & Waste’ on the side menu). Paper copies will be available at the Town Office for pick up at #200, 5604-50 St.

What Goes In Your Green Cart?

A complete list of items that can be composted in your green cart is posted on the Town website on the same page as the Waste Collection Calendar (see above). Paper copies are available at the Town Office for pick up. Residents who have questions can phone 403-783-0159.

Town of Ponoka residents are welcome to bring compostable yard waste to the Town’s Waste Transfer Station free of charge year round.

The Waste Transfer Station is located just outside of the northeast Town corporate limits on 46 Street.