City’s new recycling plan lacks fairness

By Letter to the Editor on July 30, 2020.

Re: Curbside recycling for large condominiums buildings

Although curbside recycling is beneficial, the study on which it is based, if applied to large condominiums, is badly flawed. User costs are not distributed and accrued appropriately to each user group which is contrary to publicly accepted user-pay concepts and a distortion of equity and fairness.

The proposed curbside recycling program is regressive and based on an outdated view of “one size fits all” and “administrative simplicity.” The program as proposed for larger condominium buildings is a step in the wrong direction in terms of good governance, economics and the environment.

Several Lethbridge condominium corporations currently employ private contractors for waste disposal and recycling services. Lifestyle choices of condominium residents result in population density increases. Through economy of scale, these services can be provided at much lower costs than the City’s proposed monthly fee of $7 per unit, which represents an inferior service and a 475 per cent cost increase for condominium owners. Thus it smacks of nothing more than an attempt to subsidize the cost of services provided to single-family homes at the expense of environmentally conscious condominium dwellers. This is not fair.

There is no need for city council to extend curbside recycling to condominiums with functioning recycling programs. This is poor public policy. Furthermore, condominium living is sound environmentally since it reduces urban sprawl. Almost all municipal services delivered to condominium buildings are more efficient and cost-effective than those delivered to single-family homes. Meet with condominium representatives and work out a fair and workable recycling program.

It is time that council recognizes the benefits of condominium lifestyles and encourages it through public policy.

Henry Bosman

Lethbridge