Press Release
The City of Calgary is, at long last, slowly moving
towards better waste management practices
June 11, 2003
CALGARY - The average Calgary household
generates approximately 1,000 kg of waste per year and
recycles just 22 percent of that. Dave Griffiths, General
Manager of Waste and Recycling Services for the City of
Calgary, reports that "ideally, a household could
recycle up to 96 percent of its waste". Although the
City currently maintains 46 recycling drop-off locations
around Calgary, ease of accessibility and the City's rapid
growth rate, both factor into why so few Calgarians choose
to recycle.
The City also hosts a seasonal leaf and pumpkin
drop-off program, as well as a Christmas tree drop-off
program. These initiatives are a good first step in
encouraging citizens to move organic waste out of the
landfills, but fall short in key ways. They both rely on
Calgarians to transport their own compost items and they
both have short timeframes.
"A great deal of people get left out of the
equation with the current City of Calgary recycling
program because of the lack of accessibility to
recycling in our communities," indicated Shane Bill
of the Sierra Club Chinook Group Waste Management
Initiative.
Other Canadian cities are already well on their way
to realizing their green potential. In fact, Toronto has
been operating curbside pick-up for their organic and
recyclable materials since the 1980s and is moving
towards 100% waste diversion. The City of Edmonton, upon
facing a crisis in its shortage of landfill space, was
forced to make changes. They now operate a successful
state-of-the-art waste management facility separating
recyclables, organics and residual waste. They also have
curbside recycling pick-up, a basic of many other cities
and towns in Canada.
"The City of Calgary hasn't prioritized waste
reduction as much as other cities have," stated
Shane Bill, adding, "Why aren't we looking at the
accomplishments of other cities like Toronto, Ottawa, or
Edmonton, and realize that we too, should follow suit
and avoid running out of landfill space? There is no
need for local businesses and residents to add to
landfills when other options are available, but many do
it because there is no solid program in place to assist
us in diverting this waste. People will recycle if they
are provided with an easy and accessible program, and
the City of Calgary must provide its citizens with such
a service."
This fall, City Council will review a new waste
management proposal in an effort to become proactive in
dealing with our limited landfill space and waste
problems. Sierra Club of Canada, Chinook Group will push
the City of Calgary to become a responsible
environmental steward. The technology and infrastructure
exists to reduce waste and its environmental impacts.
The Sierra Club Chinook Group's Waste Management
Initiative is actively engaged in promoting responsible
waste management practices.
Use your voice and let your Alderman know what kind
of changes you would like to see. Send your comments
through the City of Calgary's online contact
office of the alderman.
For further information please contact:
Shane Bill
Waste Management Initiative
Sierra Club of Canada, Chinook Group
Ph: (403)-802-2409
