The town of Olds has announced the discontinuation of its community grass bin services. In mid-March, the town announced that the move was to enhance waste management services while managing costs.

"A decision was made to shift current costs to increasing and improving residential green bin services so residents would see a more direct benefit from dollars spent," a news release stated.

According to the Town, since the beginning of 2024, waste collection frequency has increased to a bi-weekly cycle, with residents now receiving alternating blue and black bin pickups, with weekly residential green bin pick-ups from April 1 to November 1. 

Adrian Pedro, Director of Infrastructure Services stated that the decision aligns with reallocating resources.

"We're optimizing our waste management operations and providing direct benefits to our residents. Increased pickup frequency means less worry about yard waste and more focus on enjoying our community."

The Town underlined that the residential green bins offer a robust, effective, and convenient way for households to manage compost and yard waste. 

"The community grass bins had been increasingly used by individuals and businesses not contributing financially to their maintenance, impacting the financial sustainability of the bins and placing an unfair cost on residents and a burden on Town staff who deal with improper usage/dumping."

The green waste collected in the Town of Olds is used for agricultural purposes, so it must be protected from contamination. 

Olds Mayor Judy Dahl underlined the decision is setting the stage for a more sustainable town.

"I'm confident that by working collaboratively, transparently and embracing these enhancements, our town will remain a wonderful place to live, both now and in the future.

The Town added that this shift also aligns with environmental conservation efforts, especially considering potential water restrictions and the need for sustainable yard waste management.

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