Telkwa’s waste collection is about to see a whole new shift with a pilot project to start curbside recycling.
From Oct. 1 to the end of the year, residents will be able to put out blue bags that Telkwa crews will take to the recycling facility operated by the Smithers and District Recycling Society.
“We’ll keep track of the waste that goes in the actual garbage truck and take a look at what we’ve collected,” said Councillor Rimas Zitkauskas, saying that information will help them decide how the program is to continue in 2012.
He said it does mesh with the recycling society’s goal of centralizing recycling operations at the regional district’s transfer station.
It’s also not a particularly expensive program to run.
“It doesn’t add much cost to us because we’ll be using equipment we already have,” said Zitkauskas. “It should be a wash in the manpower because if the amount of garbage is reduced then there’s less trips to the transfer station with the garbage truck.”
He added that it’s one of the first roadside recycling programs in the north.
Telkwa CAO Kim Martinsen said that the direct cost to the Village is $5,000 for the three months, inclusive of everything.
She said the Oct. 1 start for the program ties into the Village’s switch to using a new kind of garbage cart. Residents will need to start using a new cart when the change happens.
“It’s nice to have the carts, it’s cleaner, healthier and to implement the recycling into that certainly makes sense.”