Fun Times at the 2013 Volunteer Appreciation Event

All year long, dedicated volunteers help Edmonton's Waste Management Services make our city great. They work tirelessly to promote environment-friendly practices and show fellow citizens how to be more waste-conscious. We are very grateful for their efforts and proud share their enthusiasm and engagement.

On October 2nd, we hosted the third Volunteer Appreciation Event. Almost 100 volunteers, guests, and staff came out to celebrate. It was a lively evening with plenty of conversations, live music, awards, and delicious food.

Local-Food Vendors

Six fabulous vendors attended the event this year. They offered delicious samples of locally produced food (and sold some products on-hand). In fact, a couple of vendors were completely sold out at the end of the night! Vendors also generously donated items as door prizes.

• Andreanna's Homestyle
• Catfish Coffee Roasters
• Fruits of Sherbrooke
• Everything Cheese
• El Mercado
• The Violet Chocolate Company

Live music featured Elliot Thomas, on guitar, and Spencer Murray, on flute.

Volunteer Achievement Awards

Though only in its third year, people have embraced the concept of the Volunteer Achievement Awards; this year we received over 80 nominations from volunteers and staff, in 6 categories. 

Congratulations to all of the nominees!

Outstanding Group Award
Goodwill Industries of Alberta

Innovation Award
Michelle E.

Leadership Award
Margaret F.

Great Rookie Award
Roger B.

Community Builder Award
Su D.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Michael K.

Thank you to all of the Master Composter Recyclers. Because of you, Edmonton is a more vibrant and sustainable place to live and grow.

Edmonton Celebrates 25 Years of Recycling

The City of Edmonton is celebrating 25 years of recycling and is thanking residents for their ongoing and enthusiastic participation in its three residential recycling programs.

“This anniversary is an important milestone, and demonstrates Edmontonians' dedication to the environment,” says Mayor Stephen Mandel. “We’ve come a long way in the past 25 years, and we are now world leaders in sustainable urban waste management.”

Mayor Mandel, Michael Recyle & kids with City Hall School

Edmonton was the first major city in Canada to implement curbside recycling, and since its inception in 1988 Edmontonians have set out enough recycling to form a convoy of trucks from Edmonton to Lake Superior, Ontario, a distance of approximately 2,500 kilometres.

Read more

The Great Toilet Harvest of 2013

Our Composting Toilet opened for business in 2007, at the John Janzen Nature Centre. The toilet shows that we can compost even that stuff.

Visitors to John Janzen Nature Centre and the Compost Education Centre have been peacefully contributing ever since. On August 24th, seven compost fanatics met to harvest the Composting Toilet for the very first time.

Megan & Andrew getting composty

How it works

Wood chips get mixed with the "fresh compostables" - liquids and solids - in the toilet. Micro-organisms thrive on both types of nitrogen- and carbon-rich materials to break down the waste. Then the whole batch is gets stirred, regularly, to introduce new waste for the organisms.

We have been surprised by the Composting Toilet. Most of all, it's taken almost six years to have enough finished compost.

Adding the finished compost

Site when we were done

Harvesting the finished product

First, we dug a trench near our perennial plants - away from food crops. Next, we dug the trench again. This makes a trench that is doubly-deep.

Then we harvested finished compost and mixed it into the trench, along with some soil. Finally, we topped the trench with the layers of soil.

When finished, the compost amends the soil and encourages roots to develop deep. We made sure to keep this humanure compost away from food crops and away from contact with visitors.

Special thanks to those MCRs who helped with harvesting: Maureane D., Mary-Jo G., Hannah H., Andrew J. and Megan M. Our tireless organizer was Ella W., our compost educator extrordinaire (and summer staff).

Most of all, thanks to Mark S.
He has tended the Composting Toilet for more than 5 years. He is the first one to stir the "compostables" in spring. He preps the "catchment" at the end of fall. And he replenishes the wood chips and air fresheners in the dead of winter. Thank you, Mark.

More Info

• Pit Stops: John Janzen Nature Centre CT (The Dusty Musette)
• Rustic outhouse woes? Try waterless composting toilet (National Post)

Another hazard for waste collectors

Waste collectors face another workplace hazard in late August and early September: wasps.

Encounters between waste collectors and yellow-jackets increase during this time of the year, as wasps become more aggressive than usual. Some people can have very serious and even life-threatening reactions to wasp stings.

Residents can do several things to help minimize the number of collectors being stung while picking up the garbage, and also protect themselves from these pesky visitors.

Want tips to keep wasps away from your waste? click here

Recycling Depots: No place for illegal dumping

They are often forgotten... probably because they are just so efficient.

Recycling Depots are a simple service that helps divert waste from landfill. Sadly, there are some troubles at our depots.

Simple and easy to use

There are 20 Recycling Depots across Edmonton. They are convenient locales to drop off paper and cardboard, plastic containers, aluminum cans, and glass bottles for recycling.

As the General Supervisor for Waste Drop-Off Services, Chris Fowler mentions that "Recycling depots provide an important service to the communities because residents and small businesses can drop their recyclable items 24 hours a day."

But Recycling Depots are not for dumping garbage. That's just plain illegal.

"We want to be able to trust people to use them properly and respect the bylaws so that we can maintain this convenient access," says Chris. "Recycling Depots are not designed to accept large items or household hazardous waste which can pose a risk for the staff and citizens who come in contact with it."

A sad example of illegal dumping at a Recycling Depot

Quick Facts

• Materials collected (2012): 7,094 tonnes
• Illegal materials (2013 thru July): 266 tonnes
• Common types of illegal dumping:
• reno materials
• fridges & stoves
• TVs & monitors
• bikes
• sofas & mattresses

Chris' staff visit each Recycling Depot on a regular basis. They tidy the site, ensure the right materials are in each bin, and remove items that should not be there. But dumping is a simple problem with a simple solution: don't.

The fine for illegal dumping is $250.

Items that cannot be sorted at a Recycling Depot should be taken to an Eco Station, a Big Bin Event, or the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. Visit edmonton.ca/waste for locations.

We need your help

Waste Management Services is working to reduce illegal dumping at Recycling Depots. The City will monitor depots and enforce bylaws.
If you see someone dumping at a Recycling Depot, please call 311 with details. If possible, note the date, time, location, and license plate of the vehicle.

Key Points

• It is illegal to leave garbage, non-recyclable materials, and large items at Recycling Depots.
• Recycling Depots are monitored for illegal dumping and offenders could receive a fine of $250.
• The City has 20 Recycling Depots where residents and small businesses can take recyclable items such as: paper, shredded paper, boxes, cardboard, all recyclable containers and cans, plastic bags, and used cotton and denim.
• Recycling Depots DO NOT accept furniture, tires, home renovation materials, mattresses, appliances, fridges and household hazardous waste.
• Take these item to an Eco Station, the Edmonton Waste Management Centre or a Big Bin Event.
• Residents and small businesses can drop off recyclable items 24-hours-a-day at Recycling Depots.
• To report illegal dumping, call 311 with the details.