By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer officially rolls out green cart waste collection

Apr 10, 2018 | 2:48 PM

City-wide green cart waste collection has arrived in Red Deer.

Carts have been delivered to homes over the last several weeks in advance of this week’s launch, which comes following a two-year pilot program.

The roll-out is expected to divert from the landfill up to 40 per cent of a household’s waste. A cart pilot program, which began in 2015 and involved 2,000 residents, showed households were able to reduce their garbage by 39 per cent.

“Not only can you deposit all your regular yard waste like grass clippings, leaves and small branches, you can also put in table and food scraps, processed food, cooked meat, poultry carcasses, greasy paper towel and pet waste,” said Janet Whitesell, Waste Management Superintendent.

Mayor Tara Veer noted Tuesday that this program is just the next step of a waste management plan which began in 1991 with blue boxes.

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“In response to the pilot project, we heard from many citizens that gave very high positive feedback with respect to the green cart program, but we also know there will be challenges for Red Deerians, some operational, but also just changing the way we go about our daily waste management,” Veer said.

“When blue boxes came in, there were those who were reluctant to participate and now Red Deer actually enjoys one of the highest voluntary pariticipation rates for blue box with over 90 per cent participation.”

Veer said residents and The City will need to be patient with each other as the kinks of the program are worked out.

“We expect there will be strong buy-in over time because it is the right environmental thing to do.”

To ensure the first few weeks of collection go smoothly, The City is reminding residents of the importance of proper cart placement for collection, noting that carts need to be placed on a flat surface with one metre of clearance on all sides of the cart, including behind. 

Some residents have been vocal on social media with questions and concerns about the program. Many with back alley pickup service say they don’t have enough space for their cart.

Kelly Kloss, Director of Development Services says that’s something The City continues to look at on a case by case basis. 

“As the workers are going around, they’ll give us feedback on what’s worked. If there are residents out there, they’ll talk to them as well,” he explained. 

Kloss said The City is in contact with local retailers to ensure they’re stocking the appropriate compostable bags — though the use of those is optional.

He also said The City recognizes there are some confined spaces in neighbourhoods which don’t offer garbage trucks enough space to pick up the green carts.

The roll-out of green carts was approved by city council last May and will cost taxpayers around $7.1 million.

Next spring, The City of Red Deer will launch blue carts for recycling and black carts for garbage.