One Airdrie resident has taken it upon herself to promote and push for blue bin recycling pick-up in Airdrie, by circulating a petition that has netted more than 400 signatures in less than one week.
Candi Strohan, a resident of Williamstown, put her petition online Feb. 26, and as of March 5, it had 432 signatures, as well as comments about the need for curbside blue bin pick-up in Airdrie.
Currently, the City offers regular garbage pick-up and will roll out curbside organics pick up this April. Independent businesses such as Kick it to the Curb offers curbside blue bin pick-up, that recycles items such as paper, cardboard, glass and metal at a cost of $15 per month.
Airdrie Waste and Recycling Manager Kathleen Muretti explained at an organics open house held at Bert Church Theatre on Feb. 27 that the City had not ruled out blue box pick-up, though a strict timeline has not yet been determined.
“It was always our intention to introduce curbside organics before blue box pick-up,” said Muretti. “Before the end of the year we will be presenting the options to council, whether it’s for a new depot, curbside pick up or a combination of both, that’s up to council to decide, but we are looking at it and I believe a decision will be made this year.”
Strohan said she is in favour of the organics pick-up, but feels the City sent mixed messages when it came to implementing a city-wide blue box pick-up. The goal of her petition is to keep the idea of blue box pick-up at the forefront and for City staff to recognize it is something residents want.
“Some of the things I’m hearing from the City are contradictory,” said Strohan. “They say that they are going to look into blue box pick-up, but they’re also saying that they’re looking at building another unmanned recycle depot. I don’t really care whether or not organics comes first, I would just like to see a full compliment of recycling pick-up options at some point.”
She also expressed some of her frustration with the City’s two recycle depots, noting the conflicting dynamic of being environmentally conscious through recycling, while making numerous car trips.
“It doesn’t seem that environmentally friendly to be loading up a car and making trips back and forth to a recycle depot multiple times in a week,” said Strohan, who also made mention of mobility issues for those who may not have cars or are afflicted by physical disabilities.
“I hurt my leg a while back and for about a month I had recycling piling up in my house because I couldn’t get to the depot.”
Kick it to the Curb Owner Carolyne Christie weighed in on the prospect of city-wide blue box pick-up, and the effect it would have on her business.
“This would obviously put me out of business, I can’t compete with the major corporations, but that’s a risk I knew I’d be taking when I started this business,” said Christie. “We’ve always been an active part of the community and supported this community so I would hope that they would support us in return.”
Christie said that as a resident she didn’t see any way the City could offer a better price than what Kick it to the Curb currently offers and that it would be forcing the hand of many residents.
“I’ve spoken to residents who enjoy doing their own recycling and it’s a family thing for them,” she said.
“Implementing blue box pick-up city-wide is kind of making the decision for residents as far as how they recycle.”
More information on Strohan’s petition can be found online at www.facebook.com/groups/AirdrieCurbsideRecycling/
