By Storrm Lennie

Waste collection changes in Drayton Valley

Mar 14, 2019 | 10:46 AM

Residents in Drayton Valley can expect to see a monthly charge of $19.00 added to their utility bill for waste collection as the Town now will recognize this service as a public utility.

Town officials say the reason it’s being implemented is to eliminate cross-subsidization of this service through tax dollars, and to reflect the true cost of service ($6.90 for waste collection, $7.39 for garbage collection, and $4.71 for tipping fees at the landfill).

The landfill in Drayton Valley has a life expectancy of 12 years, officials note, however, the Town is actively looking for ways to extend its lifespan. Council is planning to develop another cell at the landfill and is trying to sort out closure costs at the current cell.

Prior to March 1st when the change was implemented, businesses were paying for waste collection as part of taxes. Now businesses are required to make private arrangements for commercial waste pickup. Before, businesses were not only privately paying for waste collection services but also paying collection services for residents. Town officials say the new approach will ensure local businesses do not have to pay for services they don’t receive.

Recycling pickup in Drayton Valley has also increased to weekly pickup with hopes of encouraging citizens to help reduce the amount of waste they produce, in turn extending the lifespan of the landfill.

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The changes have allowed Town Council to approve an interim budget for 2019 that sees a 2% reduction in taxes, freeing up funds to pay for other services such as snow removal and hiring additional staff for the summer.