Richard Froese
South Peace News
Recycling bins are back at the High Prairie Recycling Depot – and users and taxpayers can be assured the items are being recycled.
Nine bins were placed on March 19 on 51 St. at the corner of 51 Ave. after the previous bins were removed Jan. 7 by the former contractor who was not recycling anything from the bins.
The recycling depot includes three bins for paper, three bins for flattened cardboard, three bins for metals and two bins for plastics.
Town of High Prairie CAO David Joy says Meston Group, of Peace River, was selected as the haulers, the lowest of three bids.
The recycling depot has reopened as High Prairie participates in the new provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, which is regulated by the Government of Alberta, he says.
Government is working with producers of recyclable materials known as producer responsibility organizations (PRO) in the program to reduce waste and promote recycling.
It will still cost the Town since the contract with the service providers will be from now until July and fully funded by the Town until EPR covers some of the compensation starting in July 2025, Joy says.
“At that time, we will enter into an EPR contract with the PRO, which is currently being worked on,” Joy says.
“Given that the recycling depot will continue to be unattended, the PRO will not cover 100 per cent of the full amount starting in July due to it being indirectly available to commercial entities.
“The intent of the depot is for residents only, but without monitoring it, some of their material will sneak in, regardless.”
So after July 2025, the PRO will offset a majority of the depot costs, going forward.
For the next three months until the EPR is operational, it will cost the Town $1,300 per month, which council will not charge residents.
“After that, we are currently in the process of negotiating our financial offer from the PRO, which will tell us how much of the depot costs EPR will be covering going forward,” Joy says.
“A good thing to highlight is that regardless of this portion, we are still saving the community significant costs due to the elimination of the previous service provider.”
Currently, the Town has the services of Metson on a month-by-month basis until July with no formal contract, he says.
“Once the EPR is in place in July, the PRO has informed us that the EPR contract will be for 18 months initially and then we will have an opportunity to either extend it or to renegotiate,” Joy says.
Residents can be assured the recycling material is being recycled, he adds.
“The Town has asked the new contractor to ensure this material is delivered to a recycling facility that is indeed able to accept it and process the material, separated, according to material stream,” Joy says.
“We have also requested that the facility they take it to, needs to be an auditable location in case we request to see delivery reports that prove the ultimate end destination of the recycled material.”
The new contractors are also obligated to keep the material separated until collecting, as each stream has its own separate bin, he says.
“Since residents are sorting at the source, we need to adhere to this,” Joy says.
Recycling service in High Prairie is also scheduled to expand next year.
“Starting in October 2026, residents can expect to see recycling curbside pick-up as a new value-added recycling service,” Joy says.
“This program will indeed be 100 per cent covered by the PRO through the EPR so it will not cost the town or residents anything extra.”