City launching e-waste collection pilot

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on June 10, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge city council has unanimously voted to implement a toxic/e-waste drop off pilot program.

The vote on Tuesday means the city will be implementing a program for up to three round-up events for residents within city limits.

After the pilot program ends, administration will report back to council with the outcomes and make recommendations about operational budget requirements if needed.

The vote follows a recommendation from the Economic Standing Policy Committee.

At the May 18 SPC, Joel Sanchez, Director of Infrastructure Services, said that if the pilot project is successful, more events could be held. The cost to each individual dwelling residence in the city would be minimal, less than one cent per month if three such roundups were held in a year.

Based on the last six years of data, cited in a report presented to the SPC, an average of 3,285 customers use the hazardous and e-waste drop-off sites at the Waste and Recycling Centre just north of the city. A dedicated area exists at that facility where people can drop off toxic and e-waste year-round.

Total amount of material diverted from the landfill amounts to over 250 tonnes. Studies suggest at least an additional 600 tonnes of household hazardous and e-waste could be diverted.

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