Joan Fullerton drops off a used milk jug at the Okotoks Recycling Centre. The Town is developing a strategy to eliminate all waste by 2015. photo by Don Patterson |
By Don Patterson
Staff Reporter
The Town of Okotoks is taking steps to reduce the amount of garbage generated in town, with the goal of eliminating all waste by 2015.
The Town has contracted a company to develop a comprehensive resource recovery plan, focused on creating a zero waste strategy.
With emerging technologies that can turn most garbage into a usable product, Okotoks operations manager Dave Robertson said the Town’s focus is shifting to resource recovery.
“We don’t call it waste anymore,” he said.
Robertson said the study will analyze all waste streams in the community and will include costs, rate structures and the possibility to phase in programs for the Town to achieve a zero waste strategy by 2015. It is to be presented to council no later than the end of May.
According to Robertson, the Town will have to coordinate its work with other regional initiatives.
He said the Calgary Regional Partnership has been working on a regional basis to identify a south waste-shed and create initiatives to reduce waste. He said the Foothills Regional Landfill is the prime facility in the region for composting.
As well, Robertson said the provincial government is expected to focus more on resource recovery in the future.
“They’re not going to support additions of new landfills, they want to see technologies. They want to see composting facilities, they want to see stuff that’s going to divert from landfills,” he said.
He said one challenge will be getting people to adapt to a zero waste lifestyle and the plan will address steps to create an awareness in the community about finding ways to eliminate waste.
“You have to change the way you function within your own house, and that’s always difficult,” Robertson added. “People have to shift the way they cook their meals and what they do with the organic waste. There’s going to be a huge public education.”
At present, the Town’s waste reduction strategy includes a three-bag limit, grass and leaf drop-off area at the recycling depot, a full recycling centre, and a 24-hour recycling drop-off area in Cornerstone. However, at present, the Town doesn’t pick up commercial garbage.
In addition, Robertson said there are four local companies that provide curbside recycling collection. |
