Beginning in February, 2016, recycling will be mandatory in condominiums and apartment buildings throughout Calgary, provided city council approve proposed amendments to the Waste & Recycling bylaw. Currently, apartments, condos and townhouses are not part of the public curbside recycling program that Calgary introduced five years ago.

According to a city report from earlier this year, of the roughly 30,000 tonnes of recyclable material from townhouses, condos and apartments, private haulers collect 5,700 tonnes. Some of the rest is taken to community recycling depots, but 17,000 is sent to landfills.

Under the new proposed strategy, the City of Calgary bylaw will require multi-family housing such as apartments, condominiums and townhouses, to have on-site recycling service. Building managers, owners and/or condo boards will be able to provide the service in a way that best serves their needs.

The city bylaw will mandate building operators to provide enough recycling storage so the bins don’t routinely overflow. Failure to provide adequate containers or improper usage will carry a $250 fine.

Though the city would not provide collection service, it would create awareness of the bylaw through promotional and educational campaigns.

If the bylaw is approved, there will be a transition period. The city would address reports of non-compliance on a case-by-case basis starting February 1, 2016. This would include following up with multi-family residential complex owners, management and residents to address issues and ensure the bylaw standards are met.