Although most people who have been using the recycling depot have been responsible, some have been leaving behind big messes.
"We've seen certainly a lot of use of the recycling centre, which is just exactly what we want to see," said Mayor Terry Leslie during a recent interview with the Round Up.
"We have seen, though, some dropping off of garbage," including the likes of furniture, he added.
"It's an honour system that's not being honoured by everyone."
Town staff have put in as many as 15 hours a week just to clean up litter, debris and garbage, the mayor said.
"That was never the intent of the recycling centre."
As with all things, a minority of people is taking advantage of the service by dropping off garbage, whatever the reason might be, such as being unable to get to the transfer station during its hours of operations, he said.
The recycling centre is the result of a collaborative effort between the Town of Sundre and Mountain View County, and many people from the town and county are using the facility properly, he said.
"We don't know who it is dropping off the junk."
Any additional hours that town staff spend cleaning up a mess that's been left behind is not budgeted for, so there are ramifications, he said, adding the situation at the recycling depot, which was relocated last fall to 6th Street SE next to the soccer fields from First Avenue SW near the museum, has not improved.
The problem is serious to the point where that minority of people who are abusing the honour system is costing the vast majority of people who are in compliance ó "the honest, sincere folks who want to make a difference and cut down the amount of recyclable materials going to the landfill," he said.
Residents who notice people failing to use the recycling centre appropriately are encouraged to report them either to the town office at 403-638-3551 or the Sundre RCMP detachment at 403-638-3675, he said.
"This is littering ó it is not in any way recycling if you're not using that facility properly."
Fining anyone who misuses the recycling depot is appropriate. Although more information will need to be provided to residents in terms of proper use of the recycling depot, there are already signs in place at the facility. So while some people might be making honest mistakes, others are just outright breaking the law, he said.
"Folks who don't do what they're expected to should pay the penalty instead of the people who are doing the right thing ó they shouldn't be paying the price for those who are breaking the law."
Town officials recently announced cameras were installed at the site to monitor the facility.
"We'll track it and charge people who are not using the facility properly, and we need evidence to be able to do that," the mayor said.
"Infractions need to be charged."
Mountain View County resident Gerry Kadey, who lives north of Sundre, said he's seen several messes left behind at the recycling depot. During a recent visit to drop off some mixed plastics, he said there was no room left in the bins, which were surrounded by debris and litter, so he ended up bringing his haul home.
Upon returning about a week later, he saw a worker from CanPak ó the contractor that hauls out the full bins and replaces them with empty ones ó tidying up the site. But that shouldn't be the contractor's responsibility, he said.
Another of his pet peeves is finding plastic bags in the paper bin. Some people put their papers into a plastic bag, and rather than dump the paper out of the bag into the bin, they just throw the whole thing into the bin, he said.
"It's pretty well written up what should go into which bins," he said.
"Maybe some people can't read ó I don't understand it."
When a community recycles as much as Sundre, it's disappointing when it is not done properly. The bins are well labelled, and it's a shame that some people can't use the facility properly, he said.
"I hate to see a good project not getting the desired results that it should get when it's so easy to do."
The Round Up also followed up with Jim Hall, the town's operations manager.
"Over the holidays, there was an influx of out-of-town recyclers impacting the site."
On Dec. 19 for example, CanPak changed out the cardboard and plastic bins, which were full again within 48 hours, he said, adding it was getting out of hand during the Christmas holidays and that town staff had to dedicate some time at the depot almost daily.
Hall said he also checks on the facility every morning on his way to work. The town has had a really good rapport with the contractor, which either comes once a week to empty the full bins or whenever there is a request. CanPak has not charged for additional pickups, he said.
"They've been really good ó I don't have any issue with their schedule."
The additional hours town staff put in weekly to keep the site clean are similar to the facility's former location near the museum, which would also often have debris like loose paper blowing around, he said.
The biggest problem is when people see the front end of a bin is full and then proceed to just leave their haul on the ground instead of checking the back of the bin. The cameras will help identify not only trends but also potentially track people through licence plates if there is an incident. Some people have already been contacted regarding misuse to remind them the recycling depot is not a waste transfer site, he said.
Among the worst cases of the facility's misuse include some people leaving behind five-gallon jugs of used oil, which is against environmental regulations, he said.
"That's just illegal."
The transfer station, which is open on Fridays and Saturdays, has a free drop-off for used oil, he said.
Other items that should not have been left at the recycling depot include electronic waste such as computers.
"Most people do it right, but it just takes a few to throw stuff around and make it bad for everybody."
If there's a silver lining to the misuse of the recycling depot, it's that at least the items dumped there didn't end up in a ditch somewhere, he said.
The facility is the first step to help residents in the community to recycle, and town officials are excited to move forward with the blue box recycling program scheduled to roll out either this spring or early summer, the mayor said.
"We want to reduce the amount that's going to the landfill. It is just the right thing to do for our grandkids."
