Nanton Yard Waste Area

Determining future scope and level of service ahead of April 2024

Council have essentially suspended the status quo of the Yard Waste Operation from October 31st, not ruling out permanent closure. Administration does not believe that permanent closure or loss of the facility is necessary financially or operationally, but making decisions around levels of service to the community and what is a reasonable cost for same is certainly required. Public perspectives on this are necessary.

Nanton Website Information on the service

Hearing from residents who do not use this facility is as important as hearing from those who do.

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* 1. How often do you use the Nanton Yard Waste Area facility?

Never

Once in a while

Sporadically during spring, summer and fall

Frequently during spring, summer and fall

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* 2. Do you believe that offering a free, unsecured yard waste drop-off service at the expense of the Town is a fair, equitable and desirable service?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 3. If you do not use the Yard Waste Area, but generate yard waste, what are you doing with the material? Skip if this question does not apply to you.

I burn it at home.

I use a home composter.

I don't rake up grass clippings.

A combination of the above measures.

I pay a contractor to take it away (likely to the Town facility or a landfill).

Other (please specify)

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* 4. All residents currently contribute $28.50 per year from their municipal user fees for anyone to be able to drop off unlimited grass clippings, branches up to 5cm diameter and leaves/ other natural debris. With the understanding that this is only sufficient revenue to run an unmanned facility and partly process and dispose of what is deposited annually, would you, as a resident, be prepared to pay one of the following options:

Only the current $4.75 bi-monthly (no more than what I currently pay) under any circumstances

$9.50 bi monthly (if sufficient to maintain the status quo of the service right now)

$14.25 bi-monthly (if it staffs the facility and funds proper processing and disposal)

The current $4.75 bi-monthly with commercial and out-of-town users funding the difference.

I disagree with this model completely and my current contribution. It should be fully user pay on site or close.

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* 5. Making the Yard Waste Area 'User Pay' on-site could be a very expensive proposition in itself, making the service unsustainable (greater staffing and equipment costs). Which of the following approaches (to keep costs down) would suit you as a site user?

Showing a special 'pass' to municipal staff during a scheduled opening 1-2 times per week between April and October.

Having a specially purchased pass that allows keyless electronic entry 24/7 year round.

Cash or debit on site during a scheduled opening 1-2 times per week between April and October.

I don't agree with this being a user pay service.

Other (please specify)

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* 6. One of the biggest challenges we have at the Yard Waste Area is disposal and the complaints we get if we burn material. Please provide your thoughts on this.

I support regular burning to keep waste accumulation and costs down regardless of temporary smoke issues.

I do not support burning at the Yard Waste Area due to smoke/ air quality issues.

Alternate disposal methods to conventional burning are required.

None of the above

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* 7. Trees and shrubs that are dropped off can be infected with the likes of black knot and fire blight, diseases that can be carried in the wind to take hold of new trees and shrubs. It also undermines what chipped materials from the site can be used for. Please comment.

The accumulation of this material at this site concerns me.

The accumulation of this material at this site does not concern me.

The accumulation of this material only concerns me if disposal or burning isn't being done regularly.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. One option Administration has suggested is moving away from season-long yard waste area openings and instead having curbside or alley yard waste 'pickups' by the Operations Dept., once in Spring and once in Fall. This would retain a degree of service while reducing disposal costs and site misuse. For some residential communities elsewhere, this proves to be sufficient. Please provide your feedback.

As a resident, this would be sufficient for my yard waste disposal needs.

As a resident this would not be sufficient for my yard waste needs.

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Commercial and out-of-town users are large contributors to the volume of material that accumulates at present. Without much greater levels of site control, these activities are impossible to manage or limit. Which approach to these users would you favour, understanding that the yard waste area is neither a landfill facility NOR a waste transfer station?

Applying high user fees to commercial and out-of-town users to cover their costs or deter their use of the facility.

Secure the site and ban both commercial and out-of-town users from the site.

Secure the site and allow only local commercial users access (business licence holders) if they pay a fee like residents.

Other (please specify)

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* 10. The introduction of a curbside "green bin" service would not be an acceptable alternate service for some users of the Yard Waste Area. It would also be a very high cost service (on a par with garbage collection), representing a large shift in terms of levels of service. What are your thoughts on 'green bin' (kitchen/yard/ organic debris)?

I would pay for this service at a higher cost, with loss of the Yard Waste Area.

I would pay for both a green bin service and the continuation of the Yard Waste Area for tree branches and commercial users.

I would rather keep the yard waste area than have the added cost of green bin.

I don't want green bin or the yard waste area - people should just take their debris to the local landfill or pay a contractor to do it for them at market rates.

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Should the Town do more to educate the public on the value of not raking up grass clippings in support of water conservation? City of Calgary information on the topic.

Yes

Nanton Yard Waste Area

Determining future scope and level of service ahead of April 2024

Question Title

* 1. How often do you use the Nanton Yard Waste Area facility?

Question Title

* 2. Do you believe that offering a free, unsecured yard waste drop-off service at the expense of the Town is a fair, equitable and desirable service?

Question Title

* 3. If you do not use the Yard Waste Area, but generate yard waste, what are you doing with the material? Skip if this question does not apply to you.

Question Title

Question Title

* 5. Making the Yard Waste Area 'User Pay' on-site could be a very expensive proposition in itself, making the service unsustainable (greater staffing and equipment costs). Which of the following approaches (to keep costs down) would suit you as a site user?

Question Title

* 6. One of the biggest challenges we have at the Yard Waste Area is disposal and the complaints we get if we burn material. Please provide your thoughts on this.

Question Title

* 7. Trees and shrubs that are dropped off can be infected with the likes of black knot and fire blight, diseases that can be carried in the wind to take hold of new trees and shrubs. It also undermines what chipped materials from the site can be used for. Please comment.

Question Title

Question Title

Question Title

Question Title

* 11. Should the Town do more to educate the public on the value of not raking up grass clippings in support of water conservation? City of Calgary information on the topic.

Question Title

* 12. Please use this space to make any additional comments about this issue that you would like to bring to our attention.