High school students prompt council discussion on recycling

A number of Barrhead Composite High School students are concerned about the possibility the Town of Barrhead may discontinue its recycling program.

Mayor Gerry St. Pierre told councillors during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 14, that he has received a number of letters from BCHS students saying they were not only in favour of the program, but would like the town to install recycling bins at BCHS.

“It is something (discontinuing recycling program) we definitely have discussed. We are concerned about the cost of recycling $180,000 ($188,489.70 in 2015) off our bottom line and the town’s ratepayers pay 100 per cent of that,” he said.

St. Pierre added that he also believed the high school and its students should be treated the same as any other resident who brings their recyclables to the receptacles at the landfill, or by the public works shop.

“My suggestion would be to write Pembina Hills, in response to these letters, stating it is up to them to set up a system where they would deliver their paper products to our recycling bin,” he said. “I don’t think it is our responsibility to do that.”

Coun. Roy Ulmer asked where the students got their information that council discussed the possibility of discontinuing the program.

St. Pierre responded that council discussed it during an open meeting about two months ago.

Actually council discussed it at their March 22 AGM after a resident asked them if the program was worth the expense, as it generated only a small amount of revenue compared to the expense of running the program.

Coun. Don Smith said the recycling program is something they need to reconsider.

“I think we have to take a serious look at that recycling program. It is a huge issue for the upcoming budget talks for 2017 and we need to get some dialog from our residents,” he said. “Do you want to continue the service and are you willing to pay a fee for us to continue the service and how do you want it delivered?”

Smith added residents might actually choose roadside recycling pick up over the current system.

“We as a council have to decide which way are we going with this. Are we going to take a step back or a step forward? And I would like to see us to start to have that dialogue before we start the budgeting process in the fall,” he said.

St. Pierre agreed, saying at the AGM council told residents they’d ask residents for feedback.

Coun. Leslie Penny said instead of accepting the letters from the students as information as recommended by administration they deserved a response.

St. Pierre agreed, adding he would write a letter to the high school thanking them for their interest and that council will continue to discuss the issue.

“Maybe the students are the key in finding out what people think about recycling. They will all go home and talk to their moms and dads and say the town responded to our letters and are asking us for everyone’s opinions,” Penny said.