What new options, if any, will you support for curb-side recycling?
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I agree with the comments that we should be recycling more items and other communities are doing more. We continually hear that there are no markets for other recyclables and we need to work together (with other municipalities) to secure markets for a wider array of items. We do need to be mindful of the integrity of the system though. The last thing we want to do is collect recyclables and not have a market for them and then have to dump them. The price of our raw materials is too low - there should be incentives to reuse resources.
We need the provincial and federal government to take a leadership role and help businesses develop products incorporating recycled materials. Going green should be seen as an opportunity - innovation will be the key to our future prosperity.
We are also working to encourage reduced packaging through our federal and provincial bodies. Encouraging consumers to voice concern about the amount of packaging and to make wise consumer choices would also be good steps.
I agree with many of the recycling needs voiced previously, but am wondering if the candidates would consider looking at expanding the recycling program with rebates. By this, I mean that outdoor compost bins and rain barrels could be made available at a drastically reduced rate, providing the means to lower some of the load to the land fill. Brampton is a city that provides composters once a year for under $20 and am wondering if it might be advantageous to Red Deer to do as well.
Hi Leanne,
I am so glad that you mentioned this. I do agree that Red Deer could be doing more on the Residential Recycle Program. I think, based on Forums and Brochures that there are MANY candidates that advocate for these types of changes. Our new Council will need to look at and do reseach on best practices from other communities and see what is feasible for Red Deer.
Increase our commitment to the environment by expanding the list of recyclable materials and ensuring business is involved as well. To find out why much of our plastic ‘waste’ is not recyclable and what we are actively doing to increase our recycling efforts? Have we sought assistance from Edmonton and Calgary to follow their activities to maximize our cost efficiencies?
Investigate and consider solutions to encourage business recycling. It is horrible to see many businesses do not recycle. A solution could be as simple as providing collection facilities in the Industrial Areas (make the areas accessible).
Investigate the use of a ‘gently used item’ area at the landfill to reuse unwanted items, steel or electronics. Yellowknife has such a facility – I am willing to make the initial call to discuss their setup and look at building a similar facility in Red Deer.
Seek policy change to allow ‘Yard waste’ drop-off for FREE throughout the year!
I encourage the change to ‘loading’ garbage containers and elimination of the current ‘5 garbage can limit’. If you have more garbage than one can will allow, additional cans can be acquired for 150% of the first can cost. Thus, if monthly garbage collection costs $10, a second container would cost $15 per month for a total of $25 / month.
I encourage all citizens to mulch their grass clippings and to use electric mowers and garden equipment.
There are so many things we do well in Red Deer; unfortunately, recycling and waste management is not one of them. I agree with some of the others who have commented that 5 bags of garbage is excessive and our recycling is entirely inadequate.
Having spent time with work and school across North America, I have had a chance to see first-hand how different communities handle garbage and recycling. The community that I have been most impressed with is Wylie, Texas.
If you own a house in Wylie, you are allocated one large bin for garbage and one large bin for recycling. If you want more than what is allocated then you have to pay extra for it. All of the bins are designed so that the truck can lift them without a person having to leave the truck. If you want your garbage picked up, you have to place your bin in the backlane in a position where the truck can get to it without the operator having to leave the truck. This system is much more efficient than Red Deer's and has savings over the long run.
Additionally, in Wylie you can recycle nearly everything that can be recycled. On the bins, they show you what numbers and items can be recycled. Even with two young children, our recycling bin was almost always more full than our garbage bin. I am sure there are many communities like this. We need to emulate these communities and become less wasteful.
Our Blue Boxes were a good start but we haven’t developed the Recycle Program very much since its inception.
I think the Recycle Program and the Garbage pickup need to be re-evaluated.
I would like to see a decrease in the number of bags of garbage allowed per week. Five bags/cans per week per household is way too much.
By reducing the number of garbage bags allowed and providing larger recycle bins – we send a message to residents that we want less impact.
We need to accept more items for recycle. If other communities have found a market for these items – why can’t Red Deer?
While on vacation in Kelowna, I couldn’t help but notice their automated system. Each home with curbside collection has 3 specially designed, wheeled cars. One small one for Garbage, One larger one for Recycle and one for yard waste. More emphasis is put on Recycle and yard waste and from what I saw, residents embraced that.
Many residents have mentioned they would like a composting program. I agree. There are communities doing this – we could too.
I liked the Curbside Give-Away this past summer. With some more advertising and awareness – more people will participate in this in the coming years.
We definitely can do better in Red Deer as far as recycling is concerned. I like the ideas coming from Red Deerians and think there are lots of other communities that are good examples and we can look at implementing some of their programs here!
First we need to be able to recycle more than #2 plastics. We are one of very few communities not doing this. We have no excuse, we could find a market it we really tried.
We need to expand the composing recycling. One good model to look at is Old Strathcona in Edmonton. Everything from chicken bones to carrot peels.
We need to be lighter on the earth as a community. We should charge for garbage pick up per bag and less for recycling. We need to encourage people to recycle not to throw everything into the trash to be hauled to the landfill. Reward the people that are lighter on the earth and let those that chose not be to pay a premium.
We need to have recycling pick up in the downtown. Presently the only recycling we have is business-owner driven. A large percentage of cardboard and paper is generated in our business community, why is there no service for the downtown. It's impractical for businesses to haul recycling to depots. In many cases it requires trucks or vans and extra staff. Many businesses simply won't do it or haven't the capacity.
We need to discourage the use of plastic bags and encourage composable bags.
We need to offer a recycling program that helps people with onsite composting. It could work like the low-flush toilet rebate does.
We could pick up garbage one week and recycling the next, it's a best practise in many communities in Canada.
We could discourage lawn clippings and encourage xeri-scaping to reduce organic waste.
We need to elect councillors that will work to ensure that we improve our standard of service.
I support a review of our recycling program. The last review that I participated in seen the addition of a couple new items. One challenge in adding new items is finding a market for the items. Without a market items collected by other communities end up paying a large premium to sort items and then end up land filling them anyway.
For more information on my ideas please visit my website at www.electdawson.com
I've recently moved from Montreal to RD. We DO NOT PAY recycling in Montreal. Plus they take ALL of your items. They do not tell you that you cant put this or that. The only thing they do not recycle is aluminum. They take all cartons, plastic and even the bottle caps, glass and more which they don't in RD. Really don't get that. And why are we paying for recycling? Why do we have to pay a tax to recycle a TV or whatever? Never seen that in my life. Do you really thing people will go bring their big TV to be recycled? I don't think so. Very rare. Why doesn't RD just take everything and not just 2-3 specific items. Why dont you remove your tax and I bet you will have more people recycling if not all. Also back home we have dumps that are ECO-Recycling. Which means you bring your TV, Fridges, Stoves, Microwaves, tires, etc etc and they recycle these item safely for you. Oh, forgot one more thing, in Montreal, we pick up our leaves put them in big clear or orange bags and the city picks them up FREE. And we can even pile the leaves up on the corner street and the city sends out everyday during Fall Season for about 2 month (or less) to pick up the leaves with a tractor, dump the leaves in a big truck to make compose. Then, in the spring you can go pick up all the compose you want for FREE! They do NOT charge you whatsoever. This is why Montrealers loves to recycle. Something for you to think about.
I can also go on with your water tax and snow removal. Just curious what RD does in winter time with all the tractors and trucks they have. As a tax payer, they should be on the road to clear our snow and not the tax payer! Never have I've seen that back home. Not as if you have million of tax payer to do.
You have some good points. Just to let you know, there are a number of people who do take their televisions, general electronics, fridges, stoves and other items to the Recycling Area at the Red Deer City Landfill. Personally, I would rather see people take their old computers to Katch 22 (www.katch22.ca) to see if they could be refurbished for redistribution into the community but that is up to the individual to decide.
Also, next week you can take your yard waste (leaves, branches, etc.) to the City Landfill to be composed for Free. In my platform available at www.chilibeck.4council.ca, I would like to see the 'Free' Yard Waste drop off available year round vs. two (2) weeks of the year - 1 week in May, 1 week in October). The drop off is nice as you can cut larger branches and not have to try stuff them in a container for pick up. The City Notice about the Yard Waste drop off can be found here.
When it comes to general recycling, check out my YouTube video from the Chamber of Commerce Municpal Forum last night (www.youtube.com/user/ElectChilibeck2010) and listen to my desire to Champion a working relationship with the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence (www.ewmce.com) to improve our environmental initiatives and practices. Also, to expand the types of recyclable materials we collect.
I believe there are a number of ways we can improve our environmental initiatives and request your support on October 18!
Recycling and reducing
I agree with the comments that we should be recycling more items and other communities are doing more. We continually hear that there are no markets for other recyclables and we need to work together (with other municipalities) to secure markets for a wider array of items. We do need to be mindful of the integrity of the system though. The last thing we want to do is collect recyclables and not have a market for them and then have to dump them. The price of our raw materials is too low - there should be incentives to reuse resources.
We need the provincial and federal government to take a leadership role and help businesses develop products incorporating recycled materials. Going green should be seen as an opportunity - innovation will be the key to our future prosperity.
We are also working to encourage reduced packaging through our federal and provincial bodies. Encouraging consumers to voice concern about the amount of packaging and to make wise consumer choices would also be good steps.
Recycling in Red Deer
I agree with many of the recycling needs voiced previously, but am wondering if the candidates would consider looking at expanding the recycling program with rebates. By this, I mean that outdoor compost bins and rain barrels could be made available at a drastically reduced rate, providing the means to lower some of the load to the land fill. Brampton is a city that provides composters once a year for under $20 and am wondering if it might be advantageous to Red Deer to do as well.
Leanne Gruber
TerryLee on Recycle - Reply
Hi Leanne,
I am so glad that you mentioned this. I do agree that Red Deer could be doing more on the Residential Recycle Program. I think, based on Forums and Brochures that there are MANY candidates that advocate for these types of changes. Our new Council will need to look at and do reseach on best practices from other communities and see what is feasible for Red Deer.
As we learn better - we need to do better!
Thank you Leanne for sharing !
TerryLee Ropchan
Jason on Recycling
As shown in my extended platform at www.chilibeck.4council.ca, I have the following ideas:
Jason Chilibeck
Candidate for Red Deer City Council
Chris Stephan on Recycling
There are so many things we do well in Red Deer; unfortunately, recycling and waste management is not one of them. I agree with some of the others who have commented that 5 bags of garbage is excessive and our recycling is entirely inadequate.
Having spent time with work and school across North America, I have had a chance to see first-hand how different communities handle garbage and recycling. The community that I have been most impressed with is Wylie, Texas.
If you own a house in Wylie, you are allocated one large bin for garbage and one large bin for recycling. If you want more than what is allocated then you have to pay extra for it. All of the bins are designed so that the truck can lift them without a person having to leave the truck. If you want your garbage picked up, you have to place your bin in the backlane in a position where the truck can get to it without the operator having to leave the truck. This system is much more efficient than Red Deer's and has savings over the long run.
Additionally, in Wylie you can recycle nearly everything that can be recycled. On the bins, they show you what numbers and items can be recycled. Even with two young children, our recycling bin was almost always more full than our garbage bin. I am sure there are many communities like this. We need to emulate these communities and become less wasteful.
Please visit my website for more information: www.votestephan.com.
Chris Stephan - for City Council
TerryLee on Recycle
Our Blue Boxes were a good start but we haven’t developed the Recycle Program very much since its inception.
I think the Recycle Program and the Garbage pickup need to be re-evaluated.
I would like to see a decrease in the number of bags of garbage allowed per week. Five bags/cans per week per household is way too much.
By reducing the number of garbage bags allowed and providing larger recycle bins – we send a message to residents that we want less impact.
We need to accept more items for recycle. If other communities have found a market for these items – why can’t Red Deer?
While on vacation in Kelowna, I couldn’t help but notice their automated system. Each home with curbside collection has 3 specially designed, wheeled cars. One small one for Garbage, One larger one for Recycle and one for yard waste. More emphasis is put on Recycle and yard waste and from what I saw, residents embraced that.
Many residents have mentioned they would like a composting program. I agree. There are communities doing this – we could too.
I liked the Curbside Give-Away this past summer. With some more advertising and awareness – more people will participate in this in the coming years.
We definitely can do better in Red Deer as far as recycling is concerned. I like the ideas coming from Red Deerians and think there are lots of other communities that are good examples and we can look at implementing some of their programs here!
Vote for ME… TerryLee
Paul Harris - Recycling improvements.
So many improvements are needed.
To anyone who reads this, please feel free to contact me. To learn more about me and my platform, I invite you to visit my website at www.paulharrisforcouncil.ca and to follow me on FB at www.facebook.com/harris4rd or on Twitter at twitter.com/harris4rd.
Of course you may also drop by Sunworks for a coffee and a chat. I look forward to seeing you face to face.
Paul Harris.
Recycling
I support a review of our recycling program. The last review that I participated in seen the addition of a couple new items. One challenge in adding new items is finding a market for the items. Without a market items collected by other communities end up paying a large premium to sort items and then end up land filling them anyway.
For more information on my ideas please visit my website at www.electdawson.com
Jeffrey Dawson
Take it All
I've recently moved from Montreal to RD. We DO NOT PAY recycling in Montreal. Plus they take ALL of your items. They do not tell you that you cant put this or that. The only thing they do not recycle is aluminum. They take all cartons, plastic and even the bottle caps, glass and more which they don't in RD. Really don't get that. And why are we paying for recycling? Why do we have to pay a tax to recycle a TV or whatever? Never seen that in my life. Do you really thing people will go bring their big TV to be recycled? I don't think so. Very rare. Why doesn't RD just take everything and not just 2-3 specific items. Why dont you remove your tax and I bet you will have more people recycling if not all. Also back home we have dumps that are ECO-Recycling. Which means you bring your TV, Fridges, Stoves, Microwaves, tires, etc etc and they recycle these item safely for you. Oh, forgot one more thing, in Montreal, we pick up our leaves put them in big clear or orange bags and the city picks them up FREE. And we can even pile the leaves up on the corner street and the city sends out everyday during Fall Season for about 2 month (or less) to pick up the leaves with a tractor, dump the leaves in a big truck to make compose. Then, in the spring you can go pick up all the compose you want for FREE! They do NOT charge you whatsoever. This is why Montrealers loves to recycle. Something for you to think about.
I can also go on with your water tax and snow removal. Just curious what RD does in winter time with all the tractors and trucks they have. As a tax payer, they should be on the road to clear our snow and not the tax payer! Never have I've seen that back home. Not as if you have million of tax payer to do.
Thank you reading.
Lanny
Jason on Recycling
Hi Lanny,
You have some good points. Just to let you know, there are a number of people who do take their televisions, general electronics, fridges, stoves and other items to the Recycling Area at the Red Deer City Landfill. Personally, I would rather see people take their old computers to Katch 22 (www.katch22.ca) to see if they could be refurbished for redistribution into the community but that is up to the individual to decide.
Also, next week you can take your yard waste (leaves, branches, etc.) to the City Landfill to be composed for Free. In my platform available at www.chilibeck.4council.ca, I would like to see the 'Free' Yard Waste drop off available year round vs. two (2) weeks of the year - 1 week in May, 1 week in October). The drop off is nice as you can cut larger branches and not have to try stuff them in a container for pick up. The City Notice about the Yard Waste drop off can be found here.
When it comes to general recycling, check out my YouTube video from the Chamber of Commerce Municpal Forum last night (www.youtube.com/user/ElectChilibeck2010) and listen to my desire to Champion a working relationship with the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence (www.ewmce.com) to improve our environmental initiatives and practices. Also, to expand the types of recyclable materials we collect.
I believe there are a number of ways we can improve our environmental initiatives and request your support on October 18!
Thank you for your posting.
Jason Chilibeck
Candidate for Red Deer City Council
_______________________
E-mail: jason@chilibeck.4council.ca
Web: www.chilibeck.4council.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Jason-Chilibeck-for-Red-Deer-City-Council/135529546495221
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ElectChilibeck2010