To facilitate more effective waste management, the Town of Diamond Valley will be shifting to biweekly garbage collection in April of 2025.
The move comes alongside the launch of Extended Producer Responsibility, a system that shifts recycling costs from residents and municipalities to manufacturers. The Government of Alberta, which passed legislation to implement the program in 2022, aims to enhance environmental responsibility among producers, promote sustainable product design and shift the burden of waste management.
"That's been in the works for years and years and years," said Diamond Valley Mayor Barry Crane. "This is the first time in 10 years I've been on council I've actually seen something actionable that's going to come out of it, so I think that's a a huge step forward."
The program will begin in April next year, with the province assuming responsibility for all municipal and county recycle services.
With significant savings expected at the municipal level, the Town will be implementing biweekly collection of black carts — waste bound for the landfill — as part of an effort to encourage proper waste management by residents.
"We had our staff go through a hundred or so bins... to do the detailed analysis of what was compostable, what was recyclable and what was actually trash, and basically 50 per cent of our community is not utilizing the process the way it should be," said Crane.
According to the Town's latest waste audit, performed in June of 2024, only 37 per cent of material found in black carts was landfill material, whereas 49 per cent was organic or compostable, eight per cent was recyclable and approximately six per cent was other material such as hazardous or able to be donated.
The Town's main priorities for effective waste management are saving money and keeping the weight of garbage down, Crane explained.
"If you put things into bins that they belong in, it's really not that hard. You'd be amazed at the space that's created when you do it efficiently."
The proposed changes will have residents see a 23 per cent annual reduction in waste costs starting in May of 2025 compared to 2024, with increased savings expected in 2026 as the reduced rates would be in effect for the entire year.
The recently-opened Aldersyde Organics Resource Facility could potentially further reduce current trucking fees for organic waste management, according to the Town.
"We're doing ourselves a disservice by not buying into the program," said Crane. "Not only that, we're trying to make a difference for the environment. Every little bit counts. Even though people don't think it does, it does."
Crane added the Town is considering an education outreach campaign to teach youth about proper waste management.
"If McDonald's has taught us anything, get the kids complaining and everyone else will follow," he joked. "So if the kids start saying, 'Hey dad, that goes into that bin and that goes into that bin,' maybe he'll start paying attention."
