Wednesday is Earth Day. It's not a stat holiday, so it traditionally gets little notice in Saskatchewan. That's a fact we should likely be ashamed of, but it's a fact nonetheless. We are less likely to turn off our lights for a prescribed period of time or march in the streets than other Canadians, but this year the City of North Battleford is doing something to get its citizens to take notice of Earth Day.
That is the day the City has chosen to roll out its new garbage and recycling system. Each home will now be issued rollout garbage and recycling bins that will be emptied on alternating weeks.
In some ways it has been a controversial decision. There are those who argue garbage belongs in the back alleys, not at the front curb. Others say the biweekly pickup will be problematic and citizens who run out of room for garbage in the designated bin will simply dump it into the recycling container.
There is concern the bins will tip over in high winds or at the hands of pranksters, sending garbage flying around on the streets, instead of confined to the back alleys "where it belongs."
Some are concerned about getting the bins to the curb in bad weather. Others think the system might be difficult for seniors and those with disabilities.
The list of concerns goes on, and hopefully some of those with questions and criticisms took advantage of the recent open houses organized by the City. City officials have done a laudatory job of getting the message out and the final line of the story is, "they're here."
Change is always difficult and as citizens adjust to the new system there will likely be some tweaking and adjustments required for the system to run smoothly. Councillors have repeatedly assured residents they will revisit biweekly pick up if that schedule proves inadequate.
So give it a whirl. See how it works. Give City Hall feedback. From experience I can assure those who truly embrace the recycling option offered, they will find it more difficult to find adequate room in the blue bin at the end of two weeks, than to find room in the garbage bin.
And I expect members of the North Battleford Fire Department are looking forward to a summer of doing something more productive than putting out dumpster fires.
