The Town of Okotoks has finalized their amendments to the recycling program set to begin next week.

For the next three months all residents will have the opportunity to use the blue recycling and green organic carts along with their regular black bin garbage bins for no additional costs.

Okotoks Town Councillor Carrie Fischer

Councillor Carrie Fischer says with the opportunity to opt out of the blue recycling bins starting in 2017, she hopes that the decision made Monday will accommodate to those residents that weren't a fan of the original plan to have the green and bins mandatory at each home.

"I'm happy we've been able to make some ground on that," she says. "Obviously my concerns all the way along have been the cost for residents for what I was hearing their concerns of a redundant service. Because they were quite happy delivering their recyclables themselves to the EcoCentre."

Green bins will not have an opt out option on them with the Town's initiative to keep less organic material out of the landfill.

"We were able to achieve some compromise on that with council and administration on getting an opt out for that blue bin, so I'm thrilled that we were able to reach a compromise on it," Fischer says.

After January 2017 those that weren't subscribed to the program will have a $7.25 increase to their bills. Almost 70% are already subscribed to the program, and there will be no additional charges for them. 

Fischer says with an opportunity to see and use what the Town is offering first hand with it comes to waste pick-up and recyclables that residents might decide to not opt out and carry on with the service.

"If everybody gets a chance to see what the bins are and use use them a little bit and realize how easy they are. they might decide that they'd rather go for a cup of coffee with their friends instead of the EcoCentre so I'm just hoping everybody gets a chance to use them and try them and see if they like them."

Blue and green bin delivery of carts started last week.

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