Deputy Mayor Susan McLean Tady, left, and CAO John Enns-Wind at Battleford council Monday. Council renewed a contract for its residential recycling program during the meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Environmental support

Town lauded as ‘clean’ recycler; contract sees ‘modest’ increase

Jun 5, 2019 | 12:11 PM

It seems Battleford residents have a real green thumb when it comes to recycling.

Town of Battleford CAO John Enns-Wind said during Monday’s council meeting that based on a report from Loraas Environmental Services residents are very “clean” recyclers, as a boon to the municipality.

The majority of people are careful to put only items that are accepted in the recycling program into their blue bins. This helps ensure recycling loads do not become contaminated with non-recyclable items, and end up in the landfill or are simply not accepted for pick-up.

“We have some of the lowest rates of contamination,” the CAO said in his report. “Battleford’s residents, businesses and industries have been good at rinsing recyclable containers and throwing non-compliant materials such as stuff that crinkles or stretches into the trash.”

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The non-profit organization Multi-Material Stewardship Western will audit Battleford’s collected recycling items at the end of June to determine the quality and quantity of everything received in the program.

Also during the meeting, council gave its approval for a 1.5 per cent rate increase to renew the town’s contract with Loraas Environmental for residential recycling services.

Rates will increase for the curbside single-stream recycling program agreement to $5.33 per month from $5.25 per month. Rates are on a per-container basis; each household has one container.

The CAO said the rate increase is “modest” given the changes and stresses in the recycling industry overall.

“I think we’re very fortunate we have the deal that we do,” Enns-Wind said. “Loraas has been a good business partner.”

He added the new solid-waste transfer facility in the town’s Industrial Park has also proven to be a useful development for the community.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow