Jodie Pearson, operator of the Blackfalds transfer station. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW staff

presented by arma

Blackfalds transfer station receives award of excellence

Oct 15, 2025 | 5:11 PM

The transfer station in Blackfalds has been awarded the 2025 Collection Site Award of Excellence.

The award was presented by the Alberta Recycling Management Agency (ARMA) at the Association of Alberta Coordinated Action for Recycling Enterprises fall conference.

It recognizes outstanding dedication and innovation in waste management and recycling operations and recognizes communities’ exceptional dedication to offering such options and meeting all registered collection site requirements.

Town of Blackfalds Public Works Manager Rick Yelland-Kewin says operator Jodie Pearson deserves the bulk of the credit.

“Jodie earned this accolade through her unwavering commitment to maintaining a site that is not only functional but exceptionally clean, safe and well organized. Her systematic approach and keen eye for detail ensures that operations run smoothly and efficiently each day, benefiting the community and its users,” shared Yelland-Kewin.

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“Through her efforts and various recycling initiatives, Jodie has ensured that items destined for the landfill are recycled responsibly instead. Her results remind us that sustainability is not just good practice — it’s good management too.”

Pearson began working for the town in 2020.

“I’m very appreciative that ARMA has recognized what has been a five-year labour of love. Operating the Blackfalds Transfer Site and striving toward this accomplishment has been the perfect opportunity for me to flex my ‘continuous improvement’ muscles,” Pearson said.

“But what motivates me the most has been the sheer volume of waste that we have diverted through ARMA’s recycling initiatives: in 2025 to date, we’ve recycled nearly 15,000 litres of oil, over 1,700 tires, countless pails and spray cans of paint, and a whopping 26,500 kilograms of electronics waste. And that’s something that everyone in this community should take pride in achieving.”

The town also acknowledges the hard work of Rick YK, Phil H., and the rest of the Public Works team for their collaborative passion and dedication to maintaining sustainable waste management.