Pipestone Flyer
Something new this way comes for Leduc City residents as of September 17th, 2012. This date marks the day when the city rolls out their new garbage bins and waste reduction program, in an effort to extend the life of Leduc's landfill.
Three garbage collection bins will be distributed, free of charge, to each house within the City of Leduc in the beginning of September. A seven litre kitchen organics container, a green curbside organics waste cart and a black curbside garbage cart will be dropped and assembled at each home by a contractor for the City. Attached to the bins, there will also be an information package on the types of garbage that belong in each bin. The contractors will also be placing the bins where they will be required to be placed for pick up by the new auto-lift garbage trucks.
The new bins have been displayed at a couple of different events hosted by the City over the last couple of months, the latest being the Leduc Main Street Festival on July 21st. At the booth City Councillors Dominic Mishio and Glen Finstad were available to answer questions about the program, and handed out cake to celebrate the beginning of this initiative.
"We have been getting a lot of positive feedback from the community about the new bins and program." said Kerra Chomlak, the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Leduc.
Earlier this year the City of Leduc passed it's first Environmental Plan, that set a waste reduction target of 65% by 2021. This was in response to public opinion gathered at open houses and citizen surveys that identified waste reduction as a key component to achieving a cleaner, healthier environment now, and for future generations, within the City of Leduc.
One of the most popular aspects of the new program is the fact that there will be no increase to the residential utility user fee for garbage pick up. The rate will continue to be $21.50 bi-monthly to City residents. Information sheets detailing this new program are also going to be included with the next City Utilities Bill that will be sent out to residents within the next month.
Some of the changes to that residents will see is that the City will be moving to a five day a week collection schedule which will go from Monday to Fridays, as opposed to the current Tuesday to Friday four day collection week, and this means some collection days will be changing. Residents will need to read the information sheets that will be included with their next City Utilities Bill to see if their collection days are changing. As well, the collection of inorganic waste placed in the black bins will be collected every second week year round, and organic waste in the green bins will be collected every week during the summer months, and every second week over the winter.
According to a release from the City, Mayor Krischke stated, "We’re confident we can meet this ambitious waste reduction goal based on the dynamic combination of a reduction program, best practices from neighbouring communities, citizen participation and our committed leadership.”