Mayor’s Monthly Editorial

By Mayor David Wilks

Recycling is one of the topics District of Sparwood council hears about most often when speaking with residents. People want to do the right thing for the environment, and they also want a program that is accessible, convenient, and practical for everyday life. I am pleased to share that Sparwood will be taking an important step forward with the launch of our new curbside recycling program.

Beginning April 6, the District of Sparwood will introduce curbside recycling for residential households, delivered in partnership with Recycle BC. This long-anticipated program reflects strong community interest and years of careful planning to ensure that recycling is introduced in a way that is both financially responsible and operationally sustainable for our community.

Under the updated solid waste management program, recycling collection will occur on an alternating bi-weekly schedule with garbage collection with one week dedicated to garbage pick-up, and the following week recycling using the same collection route.

Some locations, such as Elk Valley Mobile Home Park and residences north of the park will have an adjustment to their service schedule starting March 30, a letter to the affected addresses will be provided detailing these changes.  Households that currently have garbage collection service will receive a 240 litre blue recycling cart.

Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, and mixed containers—the same core materials currently collected in the green recycling bins at the Sparwood Transfer Station.

While curbside recycling will make it easier than ever to recycle from home, the Sparwood Transfer Station will continue to play an important role in our overall waste diversion program. Recyclable items that cannot be placed in the blue cart, such as glass, flexible plastics, Styrofoam, electronics, and other unaccepted materials—will still need to be taken to the Sparwood Transfer Station.

The primary focus of the new program start up is contamination recognition and reduction. Contamination occurs when non accepted items are placed in recycling carts, including garbage, food soiled materials, hazardous items, or most commonly non-accepted recyclables.

Contaminated recycling creates safety hazards, damages processing equipment and may reduce the value of the recyclable materials. Clean and properly sorted recycling is essential to the long-term success of the program.

To support residents through this transition, the district is rolling out a comprehensive education and outreach campaign. Clear information will be provided on what can and cannot go into the blue cart, along with ongoing tips to help residents recycle confidently and correctly.

Pop-up information booths at the Sparwood Recreation Centre and Greenwood Mall will be available to help residents learn about the program and what materials are recyclable or not, and details can also be found here.

By working together, we can reduce contamination levels and ensure the program operates efficiently and safely for everyone.

This new curbside recycling program represents more than just added service, it reflects Sparwood’s commitment to environmental responsibility, waste reduction, and a sustainable future. What may seem like a small action at home provides a meaningful community wide impact supporting responsible resource management.

Thank you to our residents for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to making Sparwood a community we are proud to call home.

David Wilks is Mayor of the District of Sparwood

Article Share