Multi-Family Waste Diversion

The Town of Okotoks continues to be committed to reducing waste and maximizing the lifespan of the Foothills Regional Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre. It is mandatory for all multi-family residential properties to have onsite garbage, recycling and organics collection for their residents. 

Waste diversion programs support local businesses, stimulate the economy, provide meaningful employment opportunities, potentially increase property values due to less local landfills and enhance the overall feeling of well-being in the community. 

The Town of Okotoks is pleased to provide assistance to the multi – family sector with implementing these programs in complexes such as apartments, condominiums and housing cooperatives.

Read the Multi-Family Guide - your source for program information.

Multi-Family Guide

The Town of Okotoks is requesting that all multi-family residential properties provide a Waste Plan to the Manager of Waste Services yearly or as major changes occur on your property.  These plans are due July 1 of each year.

Waste Management Plan

Your efforts and participation will continue to move the Town of Okotoks towards building a unique, resilient, sustainable community.

Industrial, Commercial, Institutional (ICI)

Update: September 14, 2020

Town Council approved a motion at the September 14, 2020 meeting that a three-stream waste diversion program for the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) sector be rescinded in its entirety and that implementation of the intended waste diversion strategy be aligned with a future waste management plan. 

For further information please contact Waste Services.

This section explains the current, past and/or upcoming waste programs and initiatives in Okotoks.

Garbage Pilot Programs

Two garbage pilot programs were completed in several Okotoks neighbourhoods from June to September 2018. A report was presented to Council in early 2019.

Final Report

Read the Report to Council (Pages 23 - 26) from the January 21, 2019 Council Report. 

Survey Results

Participating households had a chance to take a post-pilot survey after the pilot was complete. 173 ( 25%) participating households chose to complete the survey.

Regional Waste Management Initiative

Member municipalities of the Foothills Regional Service Commission (FRSC), including Okotoks, are currently exploring amalgamation of waste resources and the collaborative development of a Regional Waste Management Program, which includes investigating a facility for processing recyclables (a Material Recycling Facility (MRF)). The regional collaborative would be responsible for the collection and processing of waste, organics and recyclables in the Foothills region. 

Members of the FRSC include the municipalities of Black Diamond, Foothills County, High River, Nanton, Okotoks and Turner Valley, serving a total population of approximately 60,000.

The FRSC manages the Foothills Regional Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre .

This initiative, which resulted from two reports (CH2M Hill- 2015 and Tetra Tech-2017), led to an expression of interest by individual Councils to pursue a regional waste solution. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) with representatives from each participating municipality and a representative of the FRSC was formed in 2018. 

Starting in 2018 and building on the initial studies, the TAG will work to develop a proposal for the Region that offers an alternative service delivery and implementation options report (2018-2019). The desired outcome will encourage and support the partners' achievement of the province's targeted waste diversion rate of 80% away from the landfill by 2020. 
Municipal partners could decide to pool resources to create a more efficient and effective regional program that aligns with the FRSC mandate.