â–º Listen Live
â–º Listen Live

Lethbridge not facing same recycling challenges as other Alberta communities

Smooth sailing so far with the Lethbridge curbside recycling program, despite market challenges for other municipalities in Alberta.

The City of Lacombe, south of Edmonton, recently suspended its curbside recycling program and the City of Medicine Hat says it’s looking for solutions to global recycling challenges because the market, especially for some plastics, is influx. Medicine Hat is currently stockpiling some plastics while others are being diverted to the landfill until a solution is found.

Lethbridge’s Waste and Recycling Manager says the city isn’t having those same kind of challenges. Joel Sanchez tells My Lethbridge Now.com that many communities currently having problems are allowing glass and plastic bags in their blue bins. He says that’s the number one issue when it comes to marketing recyclables and that’s the reason Lethbridge doesn’t allow those items in its blue bins. Though Sanchez says residents can still bring plastic bags and glass to the recycling depots and they will try to find a way to recycle them.

He also says many communities use a contractor like Environmental 360 Solutions, which the City of Lacombe was using and the City of Medicine Hat is still with. Sanchez notes the City of Lethbridge owns its own Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and can control how it collects and processes the items for market.

According to Sanchez, the quality of recyclables has been good in the four weeks curbside has been operating in Lethbridge and they haven’t had any issues marketing the materials, including plastics. The City of Lethbridge works with their broker, Recycle America – one of the biggest in North America – and they do have a market for plastics right here in Canada. He also says the amount of plastics in the mix so far has been roughly less than 10% so not a large amount

Tina Karst
Tina Karst
A Lethbridge College alumnus, Tina moved back to the community two years after convocation, in September 2007, to become a member of the CJOC News Team. She started as a weekend reporter/anchor and now serves as Associate News Director. When Tina's not tracking down local news, she's either busy at home with Jordan and their two kids or creating custom macrame pieces for a growing list of clients.
- Advertisement -

cjoc Now playing play

ckbd Now playing play

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

ALERT seizes more than $250K worth of drugs in Medicine Hat

Police have seized more than $250,000 in drugs in Medicine Hat, following an investigation by ALERT.

Emissions reduction projects in Lethbridge, Coaldale receive federal funding

Ottawa has announced funding for projects aimed at reducing emissions in both Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Street Wheelers Weekend revs up for another great year of burnouts, classic cruisin’

Get your motor running and head out to the city streets of Lethbridge, as the Street Wheelers Weekend revs up for another high-octane event.

Pair facing charges connected to guns, drugs seized in the Crowsnest Pass

Two people are facing charges connected to the seizure of drugs and weapons in the Crowsnest Pass. 

Pedestrian tunnel maintenance to impact University Drive

If your day-to-day travel takes you between Edgewood Boulevard and Garry Drive/Heritage Boulevard West, there will be single lane closures until Friday, as pedestrian tunnel maintenance will impact a part of University Drive.
- Advertisement -