TREENA MIELKE/Rimbey Review
Some Rimbey residents may have noticed their garbage didn’t get picked up last week.
The reason some garbage was not picked up is because some people did not comply with new garbage regulations, which went into effect May 1.
Tony Goode, Rimbey CAO said residents are allowed only four garbage bags and containers must be used for bags.
The rules follow on the heels of a new garbage program that began April 1, and a recyclable program that began April 12.
The new residential contract was awarded to Cast-A-Waste Inc. and the first garbage collection began April 7.
However, the four-bag limit and container stipulation did not go into effect only May 1.
“We gave the residents 30 days of grace,” said Goode.
During the 30-day time period advertisements were placed in the Rimbey Review and notices sent out with the utility bills.
“We wanted to do everything possible to education the public,” said Goode.
However, he said around one-third of the public did not comply with the new rules and, consequently, their garbage did not get picked up.
Jay Hohn from Cast-A-Waste said most of the non-compliance issues were to do with not having containers for the garbage bags.
He said having garbage in containers helps eliminate the possibility of crows and cats and dogs getting into the garbage and scattering it around.
“The town wanted to work at cleaning up and beautifying the town.”
He added that the only requirements for the containers are that they have a lid and can securely hold the garbage.
He said the four-bag limit was created to help encourage recycling.
“It made sense to limit the bags,” said Goode. “We wanted to get the recycling program going.”
Goode said that the town had received calls from residents who were upset before the program went into effect because animals and birds were getting into the garbage.
He pointed out putting the garbage into sealed containers would eliminate this problem.
Garbage is picked up Thursdays in Rimbey and recyclables are picked up every other Tuesday.