At the start of next month, you will start saving some money when it comes to curbside recycling in Lethbridge and across the province.
A program from the Government of Alberta starts up on April 1.
The Extended Producer Responsibility program will move the cost of recycling printed paper and packaging back on the producers.
What that means is companies that make products like beverages, food and household items will be responsible for the cost of recycling the packaging that those items come in. The initiative is set to take effect for every residential recycling program across Alberta and lines up with a move in British Columbia and Ontario.
Lethbridge residents will be able to save about $7 to $9 per month on their utility bills, depending on the type of recycling collection they have.
READ MORE: Removal of recycling utility cost for residents no April Fool’s joke
The changes from the EPR program will not impact apartment and condo complexes that chose to be exempt from the recycling collection program. Those will be included in the program starting in October 2026.
Circular Materials has been selected by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority to administer the EPR. The company is Alberta’s only producer responsibility organization.
The City of Lethbridge says it has been working with Circular Materials to set up contracts that will allow for citizens to get the same curbside collection and depot processing services they are currently getting.
“Much like when you get your home ready to sell, we want to make sure our offer is as competitive and attractive as it can be for the buyer, Circular Materials,” says Mandi Parker, the general manager of the City’s Waste & Environment department. “By eliminating the debt of the Materials Recycling Facility, we’re putting our best foot forward for the buyer and saving more than $1.4 million in interest on the loan for the facility.”
Officials add that the Materials Recycling Facility debt will be paid off using funds that have been set aside for the Waste and Environment department’s future Asset Lifecycle Funding. That means residents will not see an increase to their utility rates, according to the City. The full impact of the EPR program will be looked at as negotiations move along.
Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen says this all means City Administration can broker the best deal for the municipality “in an effective and nimble way”.
“It also saves more than $1.4 million in interest we would have paid out over the life of the loan,” Hyggen adds. “Ultimately, we want residents to enjoy the same reliable service they’ve come to know and appreciate with their blue cart and the decisions made today allow us to do that.”
Curbside recycling was implemented in Lethbridge in the spring of 2019.
READ MORE: Successful first year for Lethbridge curbside recycling
