Starting the week of October 4, Black garbage carts will be delivered to homes across Calgary, starting with the southeast, followed by the northeast in November. The northwest, then southwest will receive carts between late April and June, 2011. Residents should start using their carts as soon as they arrive.
“Black carts keep trash contained, so neighbourhoods are cleaner. It is much safer, because there is less heavy lifting and exposure to sharp objects. It is also more efficient, because each truck only needs a single operator,” said program manager Paula Magdich.
A successful Black Cart pilot project has been operating in six communities since 2008. A recent survey showed that 93 per cent of participants are satisfied with the service. Many reported that their neighbourhoods are cleaner because of the carts, and that the carts are easy to use.
Black Cart Garbage Collection will be provided at no additional cost to residents or taxpayers, and extra bags of garbage can be set beside the cart.
With Black Cart, Calgarians will have the same garbage collection day as they’ve always have, and the carts will be collected from the same location, either the front street or back lane.
More information about the service is available on The City’s website at calgary.ca/blackcart.
Check out my interview with Paula Magdich below.
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Can someone confirm that when they say the NE will get theirs in November that that will include the NE communities WEST of the Deerfoot (Harvest/Coventry Hills)? The map on the news wasn't completely clear but it kinda looked like it wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteNov 15-28th for Harvest/Coventry Hills
ReplyDeleteI like the idea; but I'd also like to know how items that won't fit into these black carts will get picked up??
ReplyDeleteitems that don't fit should not be left for someone else to pick up... take them to the land fill yourself....
ReplyDeletePeter:
ReplyDeleteFirst, make sure your cart is filled and all your recyclables are in your blue cart. If you have extra garbage, place it in bags or cans, and set it 30cm (1ft) from the cart. It will then be collected by hand. There's a list of other frequently asked questions on calgary.ca/blackcart
Thanks for the clarification on the Harvest/Coventry Hills timeline. Can't wait for our black bin!
ReplyDeleteA list of delivery dates to communities is available at calgary.ca/blackcart, or here: http://tinyurl.com/26stazh
ReplyDeleteIs there a plan to come out with a green bin for recycling yard waste? i.e. lawn/garden clippings, branches and leaves?
ReplyDeleteI live in a townhouse complex, where we have garbage sheds/enclosures with hand collection. With the new black carts, there will be upwards of 30 carts on the street in a limited area. We are not part of the blue bin program thank goodness or there would be 60 carts out on one city block!! This has not been thought out very well for townhouses!
ReplyDeleteHow about in fourplexes and duplexes where there are four families living? How many carts will we get? Is it one per family?
ReplyDeleteLisa
Hi Anonymous October 5:
ReplyDeleteI spoke with our Waste & Recycling team who let me know that it will be one cart per dwelling.
So, a fourplex would get four carts, and the duplex would get two carts. If there are lots of people in a single dwelling and they produce more trash than will fit in the cart, they can bag the extra and leave it one foot away.
Hope this helps.
Good to know! Thanks Paul!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean I can now throw my old engine oil, gas, chemicals etc in the black bin instead of the blue bin?
ReplyDelete