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Waste collection made simpler in the new year

Ponoka residents will see change in garbage recycling pickup
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Come the new year, residents will be putting the carts before the recycling.

In a Nov. 14 press release, the Town of Ponoka announced that curbside collection of garbage, composting material and recycling will become simpler to follow.

“Beginning Jan. 1, residents will be asked to place their grey carts and green carts at the curb on the same week. Recycling will be picked up the following week,” stated Tim Schmidt, general manager of Planning and Infrastructure, in the release.

“This modification to the collection schedule is intended to reduce some of the confusion we hear from residents who phone the town for clarification on which bin to place at the curb each week.”

The release added the change from 2019 will help increase efficiency of collection, with the grey garbage carts and recycling being collected on alternate weeks. In addition, during the summer, the green composting carts will emptied every week.

“During this past summer, the old schedule required three trucks to collect grey carts, green carts and recycling one week, and only one truck the following week to empty green carts,” he said.

“This created scheduling challenges for the contractor and resulted in confusion and phone calls from residents who were concerned their waste and recycling was not being picked up when they would see one of the collection trucks drive past their home without stopping.”

The release goes on to state that the new collection schedule will also make snow removal easier, as on weeks when the recycling is collected, there won’t be anything in the way as the recycling bags are not meant to be placed on the road.

New collection calendars, showing residents which week wsate will be picked up according to the zone they live in, will be in the mail with the town utility bills.

The information will also be available on www.ponoka.ca by going through the “Community” tab, then clicking on recycling, disposal and waste. Paper copies will can also be found at the town office.

Residents are reminded that a list of compostable material is available on the website and that compostable yard waste can be taken to the town’s waste transfer site year-round for free.

Construction done

The town’s public works department used the most recent warm weather to finish up its construction season.

Work was done in the Southwest Industrial Park on 64 St. from 42 to 44 Ave. with new pavement slated to be laid in the spring. In addition, the first phase of adding parking near the Ponoka Civic Building — a 34-stall lot east of the facility — was completed.