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Future of Waste

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Changes are coming to the way you sort and manage waste, at home and at work. You have an opportunity to help us adjust and shape these changes by providing thoughts and perspectives on them.

Thank you Edmontonians for the overwhelming response to our surveys and drop-in sessions, and for your calls and emails. We are currently in the process of compiling all of your input.

We are still listening. If you would like to continue to provide comments, please fill out the form below. We will summarize comments and results from our surveys and drop-in sessions in our What We Heard report, which will be available online in February 2019.

Information about future public engagement opportunities will be available in February 2019. 

Information for:

Residents

Multi-unit (apartment and condo) stakeholders

Non-residential stakeholders (commercial business, industries and institutions)

Input from the public and stakeholders is needed to help inform decisions about Edmonton's future waste system and determine which recommendations are brought forward for City Council approval. 

Future of Waste e-News

Subscribe to our monthly e-news to receive information about the new waste services strategies, potential changes to waste services and upcoming public engagement events. 

View past issues: 

December 2018
November 2018
October 2018

Public Engagement

Winter/Spring 2019

We will seek input and refine decisions based on input received in Fall 2018.

Want to provide input? Learn about engagement opportunities. 

Completed

January 2018 — Market Research

Waste Services conducted a phone survey and four focus groups to ask participants about their current waste habits, and their willingness to support future changes to residential waste programs and services, such as:

  • Separating food scraps from other types of garbage
  • Volume limits for garbage
  • Ceasing collection of grass clippings in the garbage
  • Moving to seasonal yard waste collection
  • Use of clear bags for garbage

Final Report: Phone survey - Topline report

April 2018 — Grass and Yard Waste

We gathered input from residents, property managers and lawn and yard care companies about possible changes to residential grass and yard waste collection services. Thank you to those who have shared their feedback and perspectives with us. 

Final Report: What We Heard 
Results will be used to develop proposed future grass and yard waste collection service changes.

October 1 - November 30, 2018 — Proposed Changes to Waste Programs and Services

We gathered input from residents, multi-unit stakeholders and non-residential stakeholders about proposed changes to waste programs and services. Thank you to those who have shared their input and perspectives with us. Topics included:

  • Options for curbside garbage set-outs (such as bag or cart)
  • Waste reduction and diversion
  • Food waste and reuse
  • Single-use plastics restrictions
  • Zero Waste goal or target

Final Report: available February 2019
Results will be used to help shape a new waste strategy and changes to waste services for Edmonton. 

We’re Listening

Do you want to provide feedback about the proposed changes? Please complete this form.





Your personal information is collected under the authority of section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and used for the purpose of providing feedback in the City of Edmonton's Waste Services public engagement. This personal information will be protected in accordance with the privacy provisions of the FOIP Act. If you have any questions about the collection of this information, please contact wasteman@edmonton.ca.
Although we won’t be replying to individual comments,  feedback submitted will be summarized by Waste Services to ensure that all residents’ perspectives have been captured.

Contact Information

Project Timeline

February - April 2019
Phase 2 Public Engagement
Validation and implementation of ideas. Validating information gathered in Phase One by asking, "Does this resonate? What did we miss?" Gathering ideas and feedback for implementation and rollout of possible changes. 

2019
Test phase for green carts and changes to waste collection. 
Introduction of collection changes for grass, leaf and yard waste.

2020 and Beyond 
Full implementation of collection changes for grass, leaf and yard waste.
Begin rollout of future changes. 

Background

The City of Edmonton's Waste Services Branch is developing a new strategic plan, focusing on actions that will help the City divert more waste from landfill.

Council Decisions

March 2018

Several recommendations to help increase residential waste diversion were approved by Council, including:

  • Engaging Edmontonians on how grass, leaf and yard waste are collected
  • Introducing a source-separated organics program for kitchen scraps starting in fall 2020
  • Talking with Edmontonians about other waste program and service options
  • Reviewing our diversion rate calculations
  • Presenting options for a pilot project on source-separated organics
  • Presenting options for food waste reduction strategies
  • Updating waste policies
June 2018

Utility Committee approved two motions which may shape the new Waste Strategy:

  • Examination of single-use plastics policies and practices
  • Examination of Zero Waste policies and targets
August 2018

Utility Committee accepted eight reports from Waste Services, including:

  • 25-year strategic outlook and project overview
  • Alternative residential collection options for grass, leaf and yard waste
  • A Source Separated Organics pilot for residents
  • Strategic review of industrial, commercial and institutional sector
  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
  • Single-use plastics
  • Food waste reduction program strategies
  • 2019-2022 business plan

Utility Committee asked Waste Services:

  • To bring back further analysis on two of the grass and yard waste collection options at a future meeting
  • To conduct detailed engagement with the industrial, commercial and institutional sector as part of the strategic plan development
  • To bring back further information, analysis and recommendations on non-residential waste, EPR, single-use plastics, food waste and the results of the fall 2018 public engagement
September 2018

City Council approved the launch of changes to residential collection of grass, leaf and yard waste, along with an education and awareness campaign, beginning in the second quarter of 2019.  Participation in the changes will be voluntary until bylaw changes take effect in 2020.

Related Documents

Future of Waste Information Panels

Information panels on display at our drop-in sessions.

Utility Rates Fact Sheet

Information about residential waste utility rates.

Grass, Leaf and Yard Waste Fact Sheet

Information about upcoming changes to collection of grass, leaf and yard waste.

Future of Waste Public Engagement Topics Fact Sheet

Additional information about the topics on which the public can provide input.

Residential Engagement Fact Sheet

Public engagement information for residents in houses, apartments and condos.

Multi-Unit Stakeholders Engagement Fact Sheet

Public engagement information for stakeholders of multi-unit residential properties, such as property managers and management companies.

Non-Residential Stakeholders Engagement Fact Sheet

Public engagement information for businesses, industries and institutions.

Related Links

The Way We Green

Council Initiative on Public Engagement

For More Information

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311

Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email wasteman@edmonton.ca

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