Lethbridge’s recycling system shows democracy in action

Editor:

Our country had a problem too much garbage being generated and too many uncontrolled landfills.

Eighty percent of the waste material going into the landfills was Industrial, commercial and Institutional (ICI) - 20 per cent was post consumer household waste. Our city of Lethbridge saw the figures and a plan was developed. The ICI would be addressed in a manner to show concern(bins for cardboard) but not upset or discourage commerce , the generator of jobs and wealth.

An easier target was the homeowner - i.e. - post consumer waste, so a drop off system for recycling was put into place. This system was used by only 20 per cent of the population - 80 per cent elected to just put everything in the garbage bin that had been provided by the city - it was easier. Our democracy in action!

Next came the decision to provide a blue bin for recyclable materials and again 80 per cent of the home owners loved it - it was easy and no sorting was needed and the real recyclers could access the drop depots and have the city recycle what was not allowed in the blue bins (mainly glass and plastic film).

Again our democracy in action. Next came the decision to address the greenhouse gas situation - methane generated by organics going into the landfill - grass, household kitchen food waste and general yard waste such as leaves and small branches - and yes for the real recyclers there is the drop depot for the large items and yes, we got another bin - this time a green one.

Eighty per cent of the homeowners agreed to this as it was easy and 20 per cent who were already composting in their backyard had to go along with the majority. Again, our democracy in action. So now the City of Lethbridge has the homeowners’ waste under control and the back alleys filled with containers that homeowners must manage in ways they see fit.

All this work and money (estimated to be close to $50 million (all costs in ) to capture 80 per cent of the 20 per cent of what was going into the landfill.

Again - democracy in action. Now with collection, sorting and composting looked after, the City of Lethbridge can concentrate on the big waste generator - the Industrial, Commercial, Institutional waste.

Hopefully that can be done in a way that the ICI sector can handle - after all they are our bread and butter. Again - our democracy in action. Grant R Harrington

Lethbridge