Changes in managing waste removal are coming to Cochrane, with higher costs for businesses that don’t recycle properly. The Cochrane Eco Centre is offering a free workshop with the goal of educating business owners on how to avoid the increased fees.
The centre, in conjunction with Green Calgary, will host an informational session on the subject Oct. 20 from 7:30-9 a.m. with a free breakfast at the Cochrane RancheHouse.
As part of a number of changes in waste disposal, the City of Calgary announced it would be charging increased fees for recyclable materials found in waste loads. Any load designated as waste found containing cardboard and paper would be charged $170 per tonne instead of $113.
“If you’re disposing of paper and cardboard in your garbage bin and they see that at the landfill, then they’re going to charge you one-and-a-half-times the tipping fee,” said Sharon Howland, the town’s manager of waste and recycling, “and in the future, it will be more than double.”
Because all waste collected in Cochrane is transported to City of Calgary landfills, the town must comply with city regulations, Howland said.
Paper and cardboard currently make up 35 per cent of the garbage that businesses and organizations send to Calgary landfills, even though they could be easily recycled instead, according to the City of Calgary’s website.
Members of Green Calgary, an urban environmental charity, will discuss how business owners can comply with the new rules as well as how to set up recycling programs.
Members will also explain how the Town of Cochrane will amend its waste management bylaw to be consistent with Calgary’s.
Howland said members would detail how to pick the right waste disposal service.
“It’s a really big decision. You’re not sure if you want just paper and cardboard recycling or if you want the full gamut and who to pick and trust.”
Getting your employees onboard is also crucial, so Green Calgary will discuss tips and strategies to engage staff on the importance of environmental stewardship as well as the economic consequences.
Howland said it’s important that business owners learn about the changes, because one business’ waste load containing paper and cardboard on a truck would increase costs for the other businesses sharing the disposal service.
“The truck comes along and takes those bins to the landfill. The load gets flagged because there’s some cardboard in it. Everybody that was on that run is now going to get charged that surcharge because they won’t be able to identify whose cardboard that was.”
For the past year, violating businesses have only received warnings as part of the implementation process. But come January 2016, the higher fees will be fully enforced, Howland said.
Howland said she is aiming to ensure business owners won’t be in for a rude awakening in the new year.
“We want to make sure people are always informed about what’s going on in this industry so they don’t get a shocking bill from their waste collector because they’ve been putting something in the wrong bin.”
To participate in the informative event, register by calling 403-851-2277 or emailing [email protected].
