The Cochrane Eco Centre staff wishes to remind Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) waste customers that as of April 1, PAYT waste must be contained in clear/semi-transparent bags or it will not be accepted.
Staff must be able to discern whether or not recyclable materials are mixed with the trash. Enforcement of their zero tolerance for recyclables in PAYT waste will be in effect. See below for a full list of recyclable materials that will not be accepted when mixed in with refuse.
“The PAYT program is used by just over 100 properties per month, mostly from rural areas surrounding Cochrane where they do not have waste collection,” explained Sharon Howland, manager of waste and recycling for the town.
“The clear bag policy does not impact our curbside collection program and we encourage residents within the ‘Roll With It’ program to continue to use smaller kitchen catcher-style bags for the waste they deposit in their carts each week.”
Howland explained that the reasoning for the clear bag enforcement for the PAYT program is based on two factors — because the City of Calgary will now start charging higher tipping fees for waste delivered with recyclables mixed in it.
“We cannot afford financially as a community to pay additional fees because people are not sorting their recyclables out when we have a readily available and convenient recycling program right there at the Eco Centre.”
The second factor is with respect to the Town of Cochrane’s commitment to waste diversion.
“We offer the PAYT program as a convenient way to dispose of waste if you do not have waste collection or you have an extra bag of waste once in a while — not as a way to throw out whatever and however much you want.”
Howland stresses that the rules have always been in effect for PAYT users to ensure their recyclables are not mixed with refuse, this is just an additional measure to ensure that the town continues to move towards its 80 per cent waste diversion by 2020 goal.
“Clear bags are available at most of the grocery and hardware stores in Cochrane. They are not difficult to find and come in a variety of sizes,” said Howland, adding that the Eco Centre will also be selling a standard size bag for the first few months to aid in the transition.
The multi-family recycling program will be coming into effect in the next couple of months, requiring properties to have their programs implemented by June 1.
To learn more visit cochrane.ca.
