Fredericton revisits curbside recycling for multi-unit buildings

The City of Fredericton is taking another look at curbside recycling for apartments and other multi-unit buildings.

Residents ofsuch buildings currently have to drop off their recyclables at five depot sites around the city.

Butcouncil has asked city staff to take a look at how recycling for multi-unit buildings is handled in other communities and make recommendations in time for next year's budget process.

City councillor and environment committee chair Greg Ericson says there are some obstacles to expanding the service, including the cost of collection and real estate.

"Well, the cost would be in terms of space and the resources for the big bins that would be required for apartment owners to dump their recycling in. And we're talking very large bins. A small home on a biweekly basis just gets a little grey or blue box, but an apartment building with, you know, 50 units, would get a great big huge bin almost like a dumpster," he said.

"And you'd need one for paper, and then you'd need the blue bin for recyclable plastics and metals. And those two things would take up a couple of parking spots."

Ericson says that could prove difficult, especially in tight quarters downtown.

Recommended in 2010

Curbside recycling for big buildings was last considered by Fredericton council in 2010.

The public safety and environment committee recommended discontinuing the recycling depot program and providing recyclable collection at all multi-unit buildings, with a one-time capital cost of $138,000 and annual operating cost of $160,000.

But the move was not approved by council in the 2011 budget process and the program did not proceed.

Since then, Ericson says fuel costs are way down, and more multi-unit buildings have gone up.

In the short-term, he expects there will at least be more depot locations next year where apartment dwellers can drop off their recyclables.

As it stands, recycling collection by the city is limited to residences up to an including four residential units, and tocondominium buildings that meet specifications for storage and access.

The estimated cost of the recycle depots program for 2015 is $86,000, including the collection cost and maintenance.

Trius Disposal Systems Ltd. has provided a preliminary estimate for multi-unit collection as being $250,000 annually, depending on the number and type of containers and site access issues.