Reynolds could lose recycling shed privileges if not kept clean: Reeve

Keep it clean or lose it.

That’s the message from the Rural Municipality of Reynolds, following a Jan. 22 notice alerting residents that its recycling sheds were found overflowing with loose garbage and recycling.

Reynolds Reeve Russ Gawluk said garbage was tossed in the sheds, and the recyclables were “simply thrown in” and not organized. Since garbage was present and recycling wasn’t properly bagged, he said the waste disposal contractor had to bill for extra loads, costing ratepayers.

“Whether it’s laziness or people don’t care, it seems to get out of hand a couple of times a year where we need to put out a notice and and call those individuals to task, which I’m sure are a minority, but still cause a tremendous amount of the chaos,” he told The Carillon.

There are four recycling sheds in Reynolds, located in St Rita, Rennie, Richer and Haddishville. The scheduled pick-ups at the sheds happen once a month in the winter and twice a month in the summer, with the recyclables taken to the Whitemouth Reynolds Waste Management Facility, located five kilometres east of Whitemouth. When extra loads are billed, a Reynolds staffer said it can range from $500 to $1,000 per load.

Gawluk said the rural municipality was alerted to the unkempt sheds when the contractor sent pictures of the interior. He said the contractor also billed for rat poison, which could signal rodents got into the shed and garbage was mixed in.

If residents don’t keep the sheds organized and clean, Gawluk said the rural municipality would consider discontinuing the service and leave residents to individually deal with their recyclables.

“This is a convenience for them, of course, paid by the rate payers, but it’s a convenience for them to bring the recyclables to a shed in their area,” he said. “It’s only sustainable until it just costs too much to support that service.”

Gawluk said residents should bag any loose recyclables, flatten cardboard boxes and pile items at the back of the shed so others can easily dispose their items.

“Just that little bit of diligence can help it continue to be a perfectly wonderful service for the community,” he said.