DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury's council has carried a motion approving participation in the extended producer responsibility program (EPR) for single-use packaging and paper product recycling in town starting in October 2026.
The move came by way of motion at a recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting.
“This to me is a move in the right direction,” Coun. Bill Windsor told council.
In November 2023, council directed administration to complete the registration process for the EPR program for both single-use packaging and paper products and hazardous special products (HSPs).
“The town is currently registered with ARMA (Alberta Recycling Management Authority) to participate in the program and has been in contact with a producer responsibility organization, Circular Materials, which acts as an agent on behalf of producer,” town acting chief administrative officer Amanda Riley said in a briefing note to council.
The town currently has a service contractor that provides bi-weekly curbside recycling services to ratepayers as a cost to the municipality. That cost is charged to ratepayers through solid waste fees.
Through the EPR, Circular Materials would facilitate recycling services in the municipality starting in the fall of 2026, making Circular Materials the agent that would enter into a contract as a service provider, she said.
“In this program, Circular Materials would absorb the cost of recycling services which are then pushed up to become the cost to the producers of those products rather than the costs of the municipality,” she said.
Under the change, Circular Materials would offer curbside recycling pick up in town rather than the municipality, she said.
“That means that the level of service for curbside recycling pick-up in town would largely be dependent on the requirement of the extended producer recycling regulations which require curbside collection bi-weekly for single-family dwellings,” she said.
“It is difficult to give a precise answer as to the cost savings to ratepayers, given that this program would not be implemented until October 2026. However, current estimates are approximately $5 per month per household.”
