Lethbridge green cart program a success one year in, city says
![Lethbridge green carts Lethbridge's green cart curbside organics waste collection program has passed the one-year milestone. (CTV News)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/4/22/lethbridge-green-carts-1-6857375-1713823445154.png)
The City of Lethbridge is calling the first year of its curbside organics waste collection program a success.
“Six million kilograms of organic waste in the green cart program, that averages out to about 175 kilograms per household,” said James Nicholls, waste and environment collections manager with the City of Lethbridge.
Out of that, about 56,000 kilograms of compost has been given back to the community.
“We've seen over 85 per cent of residents utilizing their green cart, which again, is a big change,” Nicholls said.
“We've asked a lot of the residents of Lethbridge and the majority of people have really stepped up.”
But with the move to bi-weekly pick-ups throughout the winter, the city saw that number fall.
Nicholls says food waste continues to make up 30 per cent of material collected in the black cart.
“Working with residents and understanding change takes time,” he said. “The winter months, especially, is where we see an opportunity for growth.”
In 2018, the city created a waste diversion target that aims to divert 50 per cent of waste generated in Lethbridge by 2030.
“Green bins and the organic collection program are just part of the overall success story that Lethbridge can talk about when it comes to waste diversion over the past few years,” said Kathleen Sheppard, executive director of Environment Lethbridge.
Sheppard attributes that growth to the blue cart rollout in 2019, along with green carts last year.
She says along with waste diversion, Earth Day is a way to remind people about the changing seasons and getting prepared for the spring and summer ahead – whether inside or outside of their homes.
“If you're a homeowner who has a garden, now is the time you need to be thinking about how you're going to get through this summer with reduced water,” she explained.
“You need to be making those plans, thinking about rain barrels, you need to think about how you're going to be altering your watering procedures in your garden so that you can get the best experience at the end of the summer.”
With weekly pick-up beginning next week, Nicholls says there is still one item being found that can't be composted.
“Plastic bags is the biggest source of contamination,” he said. “So, we do still see, occasionally, plastic bags making their way into the organic stream, however, that's a rate of four per cent, is the last contamination rate we had.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6967586.1721249164!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Trudeau cabinet to meet Friday as speculation around a shuffle swirls
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet is expected to meet on Friday, CTV News has learned. The agenda sets aside 30 minutes for ministers to meet virtually Friday morning, to talk about 'appointments.' The meeting comes amid speculation around the prime minister shaking up his inner circle.
Poilievre vows to fire envoy as Canada buys a $9M condo for diplomat in NYC
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to fire Canada’s consul general in New York City if the Tories wins the next federal election.
'I feel like he did not die in vain': Family responds to report on tortured B.C. boy's death
The heartbreak over the death of an Indigenous 11-year-old Fraser Valley boy, tortured and then ultimately killed by his foster parents, was felt by all who knew him.
Rare photos reveal uncontacted tribe in Peruvian Amazon as loggers move in
Rare images of the Mashco Piro, an uncontacted Indigenous tribe in the remote Peruvian Amazon, were published on Tuesday by Survival International,
Here's who will take the podium today at the Republican National Convention
This year's Republican National Convention continued Wednesday with a packed list of speakers including vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
In ethics hearing about Liberal minister, business exec admits he lied to a reporter
The chief witness in a parliamentary probe said Wednesday that he lied to a reporter when asked about ethics allegations against a federal minister.
'Tragic trend' of fatal crashes prompts plea from B.C. Highway Patrol
Mounties who patrol B.C.'s highways are urging drivers in the province to slow down amid a 'tragic trend' of recent, fatal crashes.
Trump shooter requested Saturday off from work and told colleagues he'd be back at work Sunday, officials say
The shooter who attempted to assassinate former U.S. president Donald Trump on Saturday normally would have been at work that day, but he told his boss he needed that the day off because he had 'something to do,' according to multiple law enforcement officials.
U.S. eases new border rules for dogs from Canada as Liberals try to secure exemption
Health Minister Mark Holland says he's trying to convince U.S. authorities that Canadian dogs should be allowed to cross the border without restrictions.