Starting April 1st Lethbridge residents will see their utility bills go down, as the curbside recycling fees are being removed.
The reduction stems from Lethbridge City Council approving the administration’s recommendation to meet provincial changes. Waste and Environment General Manager Mandi Parker says the Extended Producer Responsibility where the cost of recycling is now the responsibility of the producers who print paper and packaging products.
“So, they’ll have to find ways to either make it more efficient to recycle it, or they’ll have to figure out how to change the way they’re delivering their packaging,” Parker says.
When council brought forward the concern that producers would put the burden back on the consumer by adding it to the cost, Parker explains administration has been “told throughout the industry is that’s already happened” with EPR already in place in British Columbia and Ontario.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen says the program has created an opportunity for taxpayers to save money. Single-home dwellings will save $9 while those who live in apartment or condominium complexes and receive communal collection will save $7 a month.
Parker says with the financial change there will be no change to city collection trucks emptying their blue bins, the only difference will be the cost will be removed from their utility bills.
