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3-Stream Waste Collection

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1. Why the 3-stream waste collection program?

The majority of household waste is made up of recyclables and organics. Recycling and composting are important to reduce the impact on our environment and to extend the life of our landfill.

Green & blue carts have proven to be effective in diverting waste from the landfill. On a Town-wide basis, that would translate into thousands of tonnes of annual waste being turned into useful recycled materials & rich compost for farms instead of taking up valuable space in the landfill.

Waste diversion creates many advantages for the environment; that is why many municipalities in Alberta have or are implementing a green and blue cart program.

By using your new blue and green carts, you can:

•    Reduce dependence on and extend the life of our landfill.

•    Reduce greenhouse gases, helping our environment now and for future generations.

•    Turn food and yard waste into useful compost.

2. Will my garbage pick up day change?

Garbage pickup remains on Tuesdays in the community of Turner Valley and Thursdays in Black Diamond.

3. What day will organics and recycling be picked up?

Organics and recycling are picked up on Wednesdays in both Black Diamond and Turner Valley communities.  

In the winter months (November - March) organics collection is every two weeks (alternating communities).

4. How often are my carts collected?

Black garbage and blue recycling carts are collected weekly year-round. 

Green organics carts are picked up:

• every week from April to the end of October,
• every two weeks from November to the end of March.

Some exceptions occur on statutory holidays.

5. What time should I put my carts out for collection?

Carts must be placed in the pickup location on the designated day by 7a.m.

6. Why are the green carts collected bi-weekly from November to the end of March?

The green cart is collected weekly from April to October when the weather is warmer and there is also yard waste included in the cart.   

The green cart is collected bi-weekly from November to March throughout the winter season when it is colder outside and the carts will have little to no yard waste.

7. Will the amount I pay for waste services change?

Fees have increased to reflect the increased service level. 

Fees per month:

Garbage - $10.40

Recycling - $6.05

Organics (Compost) - $6.10

Program Fee - $1.00

Total - $23.55 / month

Utilities are currently billed bi-monthly (Waste services are billed $47.10 / two months) 

8. Will I be charged for the new green and blue carts?

The cost of green and blue carts is built into the utility billing structure and will not be charged separately.

9. Can I opt out of the Town 3-stream Collection Program?

There is no opportunity to opt out of the municipal waste collection program.  These fees are automatically applied to the utility bills for all residences.

10. How will this program affect the local curbside recycling business?

Once recycling services begin, any private residential recycling services currently being provided will be addressed by your service provider. Commercial and apartment waste services will remain private. 

For more information, please contact your curbside recycling service provider.

11. Where should I place my carts for pickup?

The route and cart placement for blue and green carts will be the same as for the black carts. 

12. How can I fit three carts on my cul-de-sac?

Municipalities encourage residents living on a smaller street or cul-de-sac to not park on the street for collection day to allow room for the carts.  

Some households place their carts in their driveway strategically so that there is room for one car to pull in and out without having to move the carts.  Alternatively, some neighbours have worked together logistically to place their carts in areas with more space. 

13. Can I place additional bags beside my cart for pickup?

No, additional bags beside your cart will not be collected. 

14. My cart is damaged/missing. How can I have it repaired or replaced?

If your cart is damaged or missing, please fill out the online Report a Missed/Damaged Cart form. Please allow a maximum of five business days to complete your request. 

If you have any questions please contact Waste Services at waste@okotoks.ca or 403-938-8054. 

15. What do I do if my cart was missed?

If your cart was missed, please fill out the online Report a Missed/Damaged Cart form.

If you have any questions please contact Waste Services at waste@okotoks.ca or 403-938-8054. 

16. Can I change the size of my cart(s)?

No.

17. What happens if my collection day falls on a statutory holiday?

Waste collection occurs as usual on most stat holiday’s that fall Tuesday through Friday. The only exceptions are Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1).

If carts are not placed out on the stat holiday, households will need to wait until their next scheduled collection for pick up.

18. What goes in my black garbage, green organics and blue recycling cart?

A brochure listing what items are accepted in each cart has been provided to each household and can also be found on the Town website. 

What goes inside your black garbage cart?

What goes inside your green organics cart?

What goes inside your blue recycle cart?

19. Will all recyclables be accepted in the municipal program?

Due to the equipment used at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), glass and soft plastics such as plastic bags and cling wrap will not be accepted in the municipal program.

20. Where does the recycling and organics collection go?

T&T Disposal Services is responsible for picking up the blue and green bin materials. Material from the blue bin is taken to Capital Paper Recycling, and material from the green bin is taken to GFL.

21. Can I use bags or liners inside my cart?

Green cart (Organics)

Contents can be placed loose inside the cart without using a bag or liner. A paper bag or compostable bag designed for municipal organics collection programs is optional.

Animal waste and bedding are the exceptions: they must be placed in a paper/compostable bag inside the green cart. 

Blue cart (recyclables)

Do NOT use a bag or liner. Contents must be loose, not bagged or bundled.

The following item is an exception:

• Shredded paper must be placed in a transparent bag inside the blue cart.

22. Why can’t I bag recyclables?

The material needs to be loose to be sorted by the machines. For the safety of workers, tied bags are assumed to be garbage and are never opened.

23. Where do I buy compostable bags?

When you're buying compostable bags, look for the certified compostable logos on the box. 

Some examples of retailers who would have certified compostable bags would be grocery stores, hardware stores, drugstores, and pet stores.

24. Is food and yard material in the landfill really a bad thing? Doesn't this material break down into compost or soil anyway?

Over half of household garbage is actually food and yard waste. 

In the landfill, organics do not break down like they do in nature, because the oxygen requirements are not met. This process can take decades. As it slowly breaks down, the food and yard materials release methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

25. I'm already composting at home, why do I need a green cart?

The green cart accepts a wider range of food and yard waste - materials such as meat, bones, fish, shellfish, dairy products, pasta, breads, branches and weeds.

26. How can I purchase some of the compost that is produced through the program?

All of the material collected from the green carts is brought to a private composting facility and could be sold to a bagging operation and then sold in local stores. 

27. What do I do about the smell of food and pet waste in my green cart?

Tips on reducing smell from your compost / green bin:

• Keep the lid of the kitchen pail and green cart closed.
• Empty your kitchen pail into your green cart every 2-3 days.
• Consider freezing meat and fish waste until collection day - especially during warm weather.
• Sprinkle a small amount of vinegar or baking soda in your kitchen pail and green cart to minimize odour.

28. Does the green cart attract pests or create odours?

Lining your kitchen catcher with newspaper or a compostable bag and emptying it frequently into your green cart will reduce pests and odours.  

Keep in mind that the organic material now placed in the green cart was previously being placed in your garbage bin, so there should be no additional attraction of pests or creation of odours. 

29. How do I clean my cart and kitchen catcher?

Rinse your kitchen pail with hot water or place inside your dishwasher after emptying it into the green bin.

Rinse your cart and pour the dirty water onto grass/gravel, not down the storm drain.

Use a compostable bag, paper bag or newspaper liner in your kitchen pail and green cart.

Layer your green cart to keep material from sticking. Place crumpled newspaper on the bottom of your cart and alternate layers of kitchen waste/grass clippings with soiled newspaper or leaves.

30. Is it safe to put animal waste into the green cart?

Yes, our program accepts pet waste and kitty litter in the green cart. 

Animal waste must be in a paper bag or certified compostable bag before placing it in the green cart.

Please do not use plastic or biodegradable bags because these bags do not break down during the composting process and will reduce the quality of the finished compost.

During the composting process, the material is heated to temperatures at which any harmful bacteria is killed. Strict testing is conducted to ensure the compost is safe to use.

31. What do I do with extra yard waste?

If you have more yard waste than will fit in the cart, leave the extra for the following week. Only material in the green cart will be collected. 

Leaves and yard waste ONLY can always be taken to the Transfer site, located at 168 St. W & 402 Ave (north of former Black Diamond) or the regional Landfill.

32. What is the maximum branch dimension allowed in the green cart?

The maximum length and size of branches allowed is:

Length: 1m or 3ft.

Diameter: 7cm or 2.8 in.

33. Is lumber allowed in the green cart?

No, construction, renovation or demolition materials are NOT collected at the curb and must be taken the Landfill for disposal.

34. Can I put Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, waxed paper or parchment paper inside the cart?

Popsicle sticks, chopsticks, waxed paper and parchment paper are compostable and are allowed in the green carts.

35. Where do I dispose of pizza boxes?

Remove food residue (which may be placed in the green cart) and recycle pizza boxes in the blue cart. 

36. Can I put bacon grease and cooking oil in the green organics cart?

Grease and oils are allowed in the green cart. Once they have cooled down, pour directly into the lined kitchen pail or freeze and place in the pail or cart.

37. What are the weights of the garbage, organic and recycling carts when empty?

• Garbage - 240L (Toter) – 12.5kg
• Recycling - 240L (older style IPL) – 15.5kg (Turner Valley residences)
• Recycling - 240L (new style IPL) – 14 kg (Black Diamond residences and all replacements)
• Organics - 120L (Toter) 9 kg

38. What is going to happen to the Recycling Center in Turner Valley?

The Recycling Centre in Turner Valley closed as of June 25, 2022.