In response to R. Mazzotta’s Dec. 5 letter, “City’s stance on using blue bags makes no sense.”
On the very first day of pick up of my recycling I met the driver and asked if it made a difference if I used a blue bag or blue box. He told me it made no difference. Since then, until Monday of this past week, I have set out my blue box and it has been picked up.
On Monday I received a tag stating I had to use a blue bag and my stuff was not picked up. I tracked down the driver and asked why he did not pick up my stuff. He stated the City of St. Albert only allows blue bags. I went to the city hall and inquired as to why blue bags were needed as opposed to blue boxes. I was told the contractor, Ever Green Ecological Services, required this as their plant is not set up for loose material. Blue bags also ensure material is recycled.
Further, I was told it was not the city’s requirement but only the contractor’s. I questioned this after learning other communities put out blue boxes and they are picked up. So I decided to contact Ever Green myself and ask why. The owner told me it makes no difference to them if it is in a blue bag or blue box and their plant will accept the items either way. Several inquiries to other city departments yielded nothing but people scratching their heads.
So my question is, who made the rules to put it in a blue bag? If it makes no difference, then what is wrong with a blue box? If the contractor is OK with blue boxes then why not let us? We pay for this program if we use it or not so why make us buy blue bags on top of that? Is there some flexibility in this program? Recycling not only means re-use but use less. It costs money and energy to make blue bags.
D.S. Schroder, St. Albert
