Cochranites will soon have a chance to share their thoughts and ideas on waste diversion, as Town of Cochrane officials open their ears in a series of community engagement sessions.
As Cochrane moves closer to a zero-waste future, the Town is asking for input from residents.
“Residents have always had great suggestions for ways to reduce the volume of material going to landfill,” said Sharon Howland, waste and recycling manager with the Town of Cochrane. “In order to move forward and divert even more, we need to talk specifics and develop programs we will actually use.”
In 2012, Howland presented council with the Town of Cochrane Zero Waste Framework, which has a goal of diverting 80 per cent of waste by 2020.
Sessions have been scheduled to discuss the topics of household organics diversion and recycling services for multi-family buildings.
Waste and recycling services in Cochrane has been on the hunt to reduce waste for a number of years. With the Roll With In curbside waste and recycling pick-up program and the services provided at the Eco Centre, Cochrane residents disposed of 138 kg of waste per capita in 2011.
That number is less than the Alberta residential waste disposal average of 289 kg per capita. The discussion-workshop on the household organics diversion program is set to run Sept. 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Cochrane RancheHouse. The following night (Sept. 26), the session on the recycling program for multi-family buildings is slated to run, also from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the RancheHouse. A Zero Waste Pancake Breakfast is slated for Sept. 28 at the Cochrane CookHouse.
