Calgary council adopts $8-a-month recycling

Calgary's city council voted narrowly Tuesdayto start a mandatory curbside recycling pickup program that will cost homeowners $8 a month.

The new program, passed by a vote of eight to seven,will start in January 2009.

Somealdermenare still concerned about the cost of the plan, but environmentalists say even if it's flawed, at least the city is finally getting a recycling program.

"Finally, Calgary does something that is very basic, that every major city does, something good for the environment," said Brian Pincott, a spokesmanwith the Sierra Club who was at the meeting.

The plan will see city crews pick up the same types of things now collected at its recycling depots at no extra cost to the homeowner–cardboard, newspapers, glass and cans.

An earlier proposal included organic materials which produce greenhouse gases in landfills, but that was dropped to help cut the cost of the program.

Alderman Ric McIver said heis disappointed the plan is going ahead because it will put private recycling companies out of business.He said he predictsCalgarians will be paying more for recyclingafter this fall's election.

"When council goes to bring the compostables, I'm sure it'll be at the same price as the $21program."

Alderman Madeleine King said she doesn't share McIver's fears about the price jumping because she says council has directed administration to keep the price to no more than $8 a month.

"It's completely untrue to say that this is on the way to $21. It isn't."