General Solid Waste Frequently Asked Questions

3.   How will this affect the curbside recycling program? 

The automated waste and curbside organics program will not affect curbside recycling. Residents can continue to place their recyclables in blue bags on their driveways. Curbside recycling will continue to be picked up weekly.

4.   How will this affect my fees? 

5.   I live in a condo; how will these changes affect me? 

Most of the changes to the Solid Waste Program will not affect multi-family or condo complexes.  Please review the following if you live in one of these types of complexes:

• If the City does not currently service your condo complex, the upcoming changes will not affect residents living here.  Residents in these areas will remain with their current private waste disposal provider and will not be charged by the City for the solid waste program.
• If the City does currently service your complex, residents in these areas will receive a garbage cart, but will NOT receive a cart for organics.  Most complexes contract out landscaping work and do not have the capacity to handle curbside organics pickup.  These residents will not be charged for the curbside organic program.
  
• The City of St. Albert has assessed all the condo and multi-family complexes it currently services.  The majority of these condominiums will be able to accommodate the automated garbage trucks and will have the option to remain with the City of St. Albert for their solid waste services.  These complexes will also have the opportunity to opt out of the City run program.  The decision will have to made by the board of each respective association and will affect every unit in the complex (i.e. - individual units will not be able to select a service provider).
• A small amount of condo/multi-family complexes will not be able to continue to be serviced by the City of St. Albert and will have to find a private provider for their waste disposal.  They will no longer be charged for the solid waste program and the upcoming changes to the program will not affect them.  These complexes will need to secure a private waste disposal provider by June 1, 2011.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact the City of St. Albert at 780-459-1500.

Decisions about solid waste services will need to be made by condominium associations or landlords, and not by individual unit residents.  If residents are unsure about what services they currently receive, please contact your association.  If you have any questions about the upcoming changes, please feel free to contact the City of St. Albert at 780-459-1500.  If your complex is currently being serviced by the City of St. Albert and a decision has been reached about solid waste services, please have a board representative submit in writing to the City of St. Albert's Utilities Department at the following:

The City of St. Albert
Utilities Department
5 St. Anne St
St. Albert, AB  T8N 3Z9

6.   Do I need to buy a cart? 

No.  Carts will be supplied by the City and the cost will be included in the monthly subscription. The carts will remain the property of the City of St. Albert and will be delivered to each household in May 2011.

7.   How many carts will I receive? 

Each household that currently receives curbside garbage pickup will receive one brown cart for household waste and one green cart for organics. Residents will automatically receive the 240 litres organics cart. The cart you receive for household garbage is based on your current Pay-As-You-Throw household subscription.

8.   Can I use the cart I already own? 

No. The City will be using new specialized trucks, so only carts supplied by the City will be acceptable for use. The carts supplied by the City are specially designed for the automated trucks and each cart will have a barcode specific to your house address. The barcode is associated with a particular address and will enable the City to manage and track residential waste collection.

9.   What happens to the cart when I move? 

The carts belong to the house address they were assigned to, as identified by a barcode. The carts will remain the property of the City of St. Albert and must stay at the assigned address. If the homeowner requires a different size, he or she can contact the City to arrange a new subscription level.

10.   Where do I store my cart? 

You can store your carts in a convenient location, such as a carport, garage, at the side of your house or inside your fence.

11.   What are the dimensions of the carts I will be receiving? 

Each household that currently receives curbside garbage collection will receive one cart for household waste and one cart for household organics. These will be delivered directly to each household by the end of May 2011. You will also automatically receive the 240 litres organics cart. The cart you receive for household garbage is based on your current Pay-As-You-Throw household subscription.