Multi-family recycling now less than a year away

February 17, 2015 (Calgary, AB) - By this time next year, residents of Calgary apartments, condos, townhouses and other multi-family complexes will have convenient, on-site recycling.

Under the Waste & Recycling Bylaw, building owners are responsible for providing a recycling service for their residents by February 1, 2016. Each complex's recycling program must accept paper and cardboard, food cans, glass jars, and plastic containers and bags. Building owners will decide who provides the service and how the material is stored.

"We know there's no 'one-size-fits-all’ solution for recycling in multi-family buildings," says Parnell Legg, Multi-family Recycling Project Manager with Waste & Recycling Services. "The key to success is giving building owners and managers flexibility and choice to set up a program that works for them."

The bylaw requirement was developed through extensive engagement that showed high support from residents.

"In the last few years, we've seen Calgarians become more and more interested in recycling,” says Legg. “Research we conducted when developing this plan showed that 93 per cent of multi-family residents supported a city-wide recycling strategy."

The City will not collect multi-family recycling, as private recyclers have the flexibility and service options to best serve the needs of multi-family complexes. However, The City is offering educational support and resources to help building owners.

Detailed information can be found at calgary.ca/multifamilyrecycling. Building owners are also strongly encouraged to contact private recycling companies to discuss what options are available to them. A directory of local recyclers is available at greencalgary.org/recycler-directory.   

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