New contractor to collect recycling through residential blue box program

October 27, 2010

(Red Deer, Alberta) – Starting November 1, Red Deer residents will notice a different truck collecting their blue box recyclables in Red Deer. Waste Management of Canada Corp, will begin providing blue box collection and multi-family recycling collection on Monday, November 1. Garbage will continue to be collected by Waste Services Inc.

The current contract for the collection of recycling, garbage and yard waste was set to expire so The City issued a tender for these services earlier in the year. Retendering this work every 5 to 7 years allows The City to select contractors based on our current and anticipated needs as a city.

"This year, by awarding the parts of the contract to two different contractors we were able to obtain these services in the most cost effective combination,” said Janet Whitesell, Waste Management Superintendent.

The only change for residents will be a new drop-off location for extra recyclables. The current drop-off location in the north end will be relocated, and a new depot location has been constructed at the entrance to the Waste Management Facility. The new drop off location will be available for use on November 1.

"We anticipate the transition to Waste Management to be seamless," said Whitesell. "Residents can continue to use the blue box recycling program as they always have.”

It is important that residents remember to have their blue boxes and garbage out for collection by 7 a.m. on their collection day to guarantee pick-up. The new recycling trucks may be in areas at different times of the day than residents have become accustomed to, so making sure blue boxes are placed out on time is crucial.

For more information on the residential recycling program, please visit www.reddeer.ca or call 403-340-BLUE (2583).

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For more information, please contact:

Janet Whitesell, P. Eng.
Waste Management Superintendent
City of Red Deer
403-342-8750