The Town of Bowden is looking at several different options with regard to problems at the recycling centre near town hall.
Councillors discussed the issue at their regular meeting last week, but decided to defer action on the item.
“I think we are going to have to have an attendant there. We can't go on the way we are,” Sheila Church told fellow councillors.
Church suggested that since it is widely known that people who aren't residents of Bowden or the outlying areas of Red Deer County are the ones dumping at the site, some proof of residency in Bowden or rural Red Deer County should be produced by people wanting to recycle material there.
“We have empirical knowledge that much of the material is not coming from Bowden or Red Deer County. The recycling centre is supposed to be for the citizens of Bowden and Red Deer County, but if it's Sunday afternoon (and) the neighbouring places are closed (the thinking is) we'll just run it down to Bowden. We're going to have to really tighten up,” she said.
“Really, it's unfortunate. But really people dump mattresses and building supplies and everything but recycling (there),” she said.
Many councillors thought that if the situation didn't improve, the centre should be closed.
Currently, Waste Management Inc. is picking up the four bins at the centre twice per week but has advised the town that it can't increase the number of pick-ups. The town is spending about $10,400 on the service per year.
The town began offering the service in 2009, with one bin for glass, a second for metal and a third for cardboard. Cardboard recycling increased so much that a second cardboard bin was added, raising the initial $2,900 cost per year to the current rate.
Mayor Robb Stuart said another option being considered is to purchase a garbage truck that the town is currently in need of that can pick up garbage bins and transfer the refuse into the trucks. If that option is chosen, Stuart said the town could use the truck to pick up recycling also.
“But that's still to be determined,” he said.
Another option that was presented to council was to have a 30-yard roll-off container with slots be picked up twice per week. Councillors rejected that option, as it would cost nearly $27,000 per year and was deemed too expensive for the town.
"Really, it's unfortunate. But really people dump mattresses and building supplies and everything but recycling (there)."Coun. Sheila Church, Town of Bowden
