INNISFAIL -- After months of trying to find a workable solution to recycle glass, the town finally found a positive answer from a B.C. company.
Glass recycling is officially coming to Innisfail as of June 1, the same day automated waste collection begins with the town's new waste collection contractor, Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S).
Even better for Innisfailians is the news the glass recycling service will be free.
With the new service, Innisfail will soon join Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore, Banff and Strathcona County as municipalities in Alberta that offers their citizens glass recycling service.
At its regular meeting on April 11, town council voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with Enviro-Grit Abrasives/Enviro-Corp Recycling, a division of United Concrete and Gravel Ltd., to handle glass recycling needs for the Town of Innisfail.
"I am excited about it and kudos to Heather Whymark and all the work she did on that file and finding somebody that will do that," said Coun. Jean Barclay. "I was surprised personally on the glass recycling part how much interest there was from the citizens in Innisfail about that component."
Whymark, the town's director of corporate services, has been looking into the glass recycling issue for more than two months after council was told E360S did not provide it due to the poor market for that service.
However, since discussions for automated waste collection began in town almost two years ago, and especially after council approved a new waste collection company earlier this year, there has been growing community interest and demand for glass recycling.
"When the new company (E360S) took over and they could not recycle glass, I do believe it was due diligence on our part to find an avenue if there was one out there," said Whymark. "I did not know at that time if there was or wasn't. But yay, there was and yeah, we can participate. It definitely is a win-win."
Whymark advised council on March 11 that preliminary research showed Enviro-Corp Recycling, a firm based in Abbotsford, B.C., was doing the service. Council directed Whymark to get more glass recycling information, including costs, and report back to council.
She told council on April 11 Enviro-Grit Abrasives/Enviro-Corp Recycling agreed to work with the town on recycled glass at a price of $65 a tonne. Glass is currently classified as waste, which costs $125 a tonne to have it sent to the landfill.
As of June 1, Innisfailians can bring all their glass waste, including broken bottles, to a glass drop-off at the town's Transfer Station -- at no cost.
As for the impact the new service will have on the town budget, Whymark said because the glass recycling cost, $65 per tonne, is half the $125 cost for waste removal, the town should be able to break even, at least in the first year.
"That is why there is no cost to anybody. It should break even by the time we pay the contractor. After a year? Maybe we can lower that waste cost because that stuff (glass) is not in there.
"it is a pliot (project) at this point until we see how much is actually going to be generated," she said.
Whymark added negotiations with Enviro-Grit Abrasives/Enviro-Corp Recycling to reach an agreement went smoothly, adding the B.C. company will pick up the accumulated glass at the Transfer Station drop-off at least once a year or any time the town feels it needs to be done.
"We are sort of on their corridor between Calgary and Edmonton so they are going to stop in whenever we are full and pick up. They are more than happy to participate. They are really ready to work with us, and quite excited about it," said Whymark.
