Some Airdrie services are reopening as the Province of Alberta starts its relaunch of the provincial economy.   

Yesterday (May 6) the city's Waste and Recycling Department threw open the gates of the Recycle Depot, and they did it one week earlier than expected after saying earlier this week that the depot would be opening on May 13th.  Waste and Recycling Team Leader Susan Grimm says they've opened with modified hours, new procedures, and programs in place.

"COVID-19 has brought a lot of challenges, specifically when you're putting people in a public place.  Having to protect, not only our employees but to try to keep residents safe as well."

New protocols are now in place to keep people safe, starting, Grimm says, with where you'll cue up, which will be outside of the depot gate on East Lake Hill.  "That's because we're expecting a lot of traffic and we can't plug up the bulb that's outside of our gates because the bulk-water station is there and there's lots of trucks."

Grimm says other protocols that will be in place include:

  • Only five vehicles inside Recycle Depot at one time
  • People will be flagged in when it’s their turn
  • No vehicles bigger than a half tonne truck will be permitted – no trailers
  • Only one person may exit each vehicle while inside the Depot gates
  • All material needs to be sorted prior to entering to speed up the process
  • Keep visit to a maximum of 10 minutes
  • Once inside, please maintain physical distancing
  • Operations staff will not physically assist at this time

"We've done a whole bunch of signage and placed things apart and moved some things around so you don't have to go into buildings to access," Grimm explains.  "The best thing I can say is keep your eyes open and watch for the signs.  There are place markers on the floor to keep social-distancing and one thing you can do to speed up your visit is to sort everything before you get here."

Some programs have also been cancelled for the summer including ones deemed "high-touch" that could transmit CVODI-19.  They are:

  • Bike program
  • Clothing/textiles
  • Book shed
  • Rain barrel sales (at the Depot)Garbage tag sales (these are available at Coop and Shoppers Drug Mart

Grimm says they're excited to see everybody come back to do their recycling but also asks that people show patience as they're expecting lots of traffic. 

The depot will be open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.  Essential/front-line workers and seniors will be given an opportunity to use the Recycle Depot Thursdays from 9 – 10 an.  Waste and Recycling asks that other residents refrain from using the depot at that time. 

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