The City of Airdrie celebrated the grand reopening of the Westside Recycling Depot, located in the Home Depot parking lot, June 16.
The large blue bins in which residents can recycle their paper, plastic, metal, glass, and cardboard items now feature new signage detailing what can and cannot be dropped off, as well as signs reminding residents to try a different slot if one is full.
“We wanted to raise awareness among residents as to what items can be dropped off and what can’t be and make things clearer for them,” said Susan Grimm, team leader for the City’s Waste and Recycling department.
Grimm said that due to the volume of items recycled at the depot on a daily basis, at least one of the bins is taken to Calgary every day to be unloaded, so the new signage will also serve to advertise for Airdrie’s recycling program.
“We thought it would be a good idea to show that Airdrie is being responsible with the recycling that we do,” she said.
The all-hours depot, which opened in April 2010, joined the existing eastside recycling depot at East Lake Hill and the waste disposal transfer site in the city’s northwest, replacing the former employee-run westside location.
“We wanted to have a presence here because we were finding that people on the westside don’t know the eastside depot exists, and vice versa,” said Grimm. “This location makes it easier for residents to recycle because we’re open 24/7. It’s a good facility for the residents, for sure.”
For the reopening, Super Save Shredding partnered with the City and donated their services so residents could have their personal household documents, such as bank statements and credit card and utility bills that contain personal information, shredded at no cost.
“It was really great of Super Save to offer to do this for us for free,” said Grimm.
“Often we get people coming in, specifically to the (eastside depot), that ask what they should do with personal papers. Nobody goes through it when it’s dumped in there, but of course people have concerns. This gives them an option, and if it’s successful, we’ll consider bring it back again.”
For more information, contact Waste and Recycling at 403-948-0246 or visit www.airdrie.ca
