Dear Editor,
Given the recent ‘letters to the editor’ and comments from people around Town, it would seem there is concern among the residents of Okotoks regarding the proposed Enhanced Waste Services Plan. It is certainly raising its fair share of negative feedback.
At the June 27 town council meeting, the Waste Services Manager, in his report to Council stated that they had approved the Implementation Plan in December of 2014.
Questions from Council were sort of answered but answers held to the Plan as presented. This means, that in addition to the current black waste cart, all single family homes will receive a blue cart for recyclable material and a green cart for food waste and other organic material.
The current flat charge of $20 bimonthly will be increased to $20.50 each month. This will be applied to our Utility bill for the balance of 2016 with the 2017 cost yet to be determined. We currently pay a $6.50 Environmental Fee bimonthly.
Voluntary participation in the Blue cart program will no longer be optional, nor is the option suggested by Councillor Fisher for a pay as you use system for the blue or green carts.
We not only have the additional cost, whether we want the carts or not, but we have to locate them on our site and keep them clean. Those of us who have been collecting our food waste and taking it to the Eco Centre green bins realize there can be an odour as the compostable bags and food deteriorates. Keeping the small ‘counter top’ container clean is one thing but keeping a 120 litre cart clean is quite another. Washing the cart on the driveway and letting the effluent drain into the gutter is not an answer.
There are a few other points that could use some clarification such as; what about the new Eco Centre and what is the interface between the Okotoks waste program and the Regional Land Fill, to which we have been partners for years.
An updated Waste Services Bylaw is to be presented to Council at their Monday, Aug. 22 meeting.
For those who wish to do so, Council provides an opportunity at 3 p.m. for citizens to speak to Council for up to five minutes.
To make a presentation Citizens must sign-in at the Municipal Secretary’s desk, in the Council Chamber, before that time.
Russ Wheatley
Okotoks
