As of this month, recycling programs are mandatory for multi-family housing.

Tracy Pagenhardt, Program Coordinator with Waste & Recycling at the City of Airdrie, explained the multi-family recycling program actually began last January. Any condo or apartment that doesn't receive City waste collection services needed to implement a recycling program. A year later, those programs are now mandatory and condo boards or property managers must implement those programs.

"We're not actually servicing the properties ourselves. There's a number of reasons for that. Primarily because there's such a variety in these buildings that the private sector is much more capable of offering a customized solution, something that works specifically for that building because we know that each apartment building, they're all a little bit different."

Pagenhardt explained the City has a directory of different recycling collectors for property managers and condo boards, so that they can choose one that fits best with their building. It is now up to condo boards and property managers to inform their tenants about mandatory recycling and how their selected program works.

"The property manager does need to communicate with their residents what the program is, how to use it. They need to make sure that there's proper signage too, which is really important because you can't expect someone to use a program if they don't have the education, if they don't have the proper signage."

If you live in multi-family housing and don't think your building has a recycling program, Pagenhardt said the first step is to reach out to your condo board to find out more about their recycling program.

"If there isn't a program currently in place in these properties, I encourage them to reach out to their condo board and to see what's going on. They can also contact us and I'll certainly give them more details on it."

Pagenhardt said they try to work with property owners and condo boards that are not in compliance, as the problem is often a lack of education regarding mandatory recycling. If there is continued non-compliance, the City does have a fine that is only used as a last resort, and Pagenhardt said she did not expect any fines would be handed out.

While Pagenhardt said they are always looking for ways to divert more waste from landfills, this is the last step in implementing recycling in Airdrie, and no other changes to waste and recycling are anticipated for the time being.

 

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