Council approves move that will reduce residential utility bill costs

Starting April 1 next year, residents will see a reduction in their curbside recycling collection fees. No fooling!

Stemming from changes at the provincial level, producers of printed paper and packaging are now responsible for the cost of recycling their products. This program is called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and is designed for residential recycling, taking effect across the province on April 1, 2025. The program is already in place in other provinces like British Columbia and Ontario.

City Council approved the recommendation from Administration which will reduce utility bills by either $9 or $7 a month, based on the type of recycling collection service residents receive. 

Example of 2024 Utility Bill with the removal of recycling charges.

“Residents can look forward to seeing a reduction of $9 a month if they receive curbside collection of their blue bin, or $7 a month if they receive communal collection, like in apartment or condominium complexes,” says Mandi Parker, Waste & Environment General Manager. 

“The EPR process has provided some excellent cost-saving opportunities for taxpayers and we look forward to learning more about what opportunities may arise with the program progression of EPR,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. 

While residents can still expect to see City collection trucks emptying their blue bins, they will not be directly paying for the service as of April 1, 2025.

“We know there is more work ahead of us and we are working closely with the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) to understand how we can achieve the best outcomes for our community,” says Parker. 

The EPR changes will not impact apartment and condominium complexes that opted to be exempt from the recycling collection program and they will be included in the program in October 2026.

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