City asks residents to put only items approved for recycling in their blue bins, or else risk facing a fine. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)  

By Angela Brown

City Recycling

City implementing fines for those who toss trash in recycling bins

Jun 1, 2020 | 5:54 PM

The city is getting tough on residents who put garbage in their recycling bins.

Mayor Ryan Bater said when people discard their trash into recycling containers it ends up costing taxpayers.

“Every time we have a rejected load like this because of these items, those items go into our landfill,” he said. “The faster we fill our landfill, the sooner we are going to have to replace the current cell.”

The city anticipates the current landfill cell will need to be replaced in 2028 at a cost of $2 million to build a new one.

“Every time we have these spoiled loads, that brings the date closer to us,” Bater said. “We would prefer to extend the life of the cell as long as we can.”

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The city implemented its fines program starting Monday for people who continue to dispose of trash in their recycling bins.

Fines start at $100 for the first offence, $200 for the second offence and $300 for the third offence. After the third offence, fines may increase to $5,000 for an additional offence. The city solicitor will assist in enforcing any tickets not paid through the court system.

The mayor said some people appear to be ignoring the rules. For those who may have simply misinterpreted the recycling instructions the city will start by giving them a warning first.

Bater said when individuals throw trash into their recycling containers that impacts the entire recycling program. The aim of the recycling program is to take pressure off the city’s landfill system, and to benefit the environment.

Some of the items the city sees thrown into the blue bins include used diapers, left-over food items and even engine parts.

“These are items that are clearly not recyclable,” Bater said. “This isn’t a matter of people being confused about things like grocery shopping bags. These are items that are clearly garbage. People are using the recycle bin to get rid of stuff, and it’s becoming a problem and we need it discontinued.”

Plastic bags, grass cuttings and pizza boxes with grease stains are also among the items that cannot be recycled.

Pictographs are available on people’s blue bins indicating what is permitted in the recycling program. They can also access the Loraas Environmental recycling guide available here.

The city reports one contaminated blue bin has the potential to contaminate the entire truckload of recyclable material during pick up.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW