News Release
August 1, 2007
Recycling Issues Explored
Edmonton... Is the number of bottle depots in Alberta sufficient? Should milk containers be included in the deposit refund system? Should existing deposit levels be raised?
These are just a few of the issues for which public input is being sought by the Legislative Assembly’s all-party Standing Committee on Resources and Environment.
"These are all issues of great public interest," said Denis Ducharme, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake and Chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment. "The committee wants to ensure Albertans have a voice in this process."
The Standing Committee on Resources and Environment is one of four all-party committees established by the Assembly this spring. Among other responsibilities, this 11-Member committee is performing a public inquiry into issues surrounding the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation.
These issues include
Beverage Container Collection System: is the number of existing bottle depots in Alberta sufficient? Should additional collection options be considered?
Exemption of Milk Containers: should milk containers be included in the deposit refund system?
Deposit Levels: should the existing deposit levels be raised? Should there be only one deposit level for all containers? Should large or oversize containers (i.e. 15-litre water bottles) have a much higher deposit level?
Unredeemed Deposits: should management of these unredeemed deposits be transferred from the manufacturer to the Delegated Administrative Organization (currently the Beverage Container Management Board), or should manufacturers continue to manage these funds? Should the regulation stipulate how these deposits may be used?
Service Quality: what direction should be given to the Delegated Administrative Organization respecting the administration of standards included in the bylaws? Should there be a specific enforcement clause to deal with service quality?
Two Common Collection Agents: Should the number of common collection agents required be a business decision handled in the bylaws and not prescribed in the Regulation?
Other issues that may arise.
The process surrounding the Committee’s review of the regulation is intended to enhance transparency, openness and accountability to the public.
Information about the committee and its review process can be found at www.assembly.ab.ca/resourceandenvironment.
Members of the public are invited to make written submissions to the committee before the August 24, 2007, deadline. Details about the submission process are also available on the website.
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Media enquiries may be directed to:
Denis Ducharme, MLA for Bonnyville-Cold Lake
Chair of the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment
Legislature Office
#723 Legislature Annex
9718 107 Street
Edmonton, AB Canada T5K 1E4
Phone: (780) 415-0995 Fax: (780) 422-1671
Or
For general information about the Committee
Karen Sawchuk, Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Committee Clerk, Standing Committee on Resources and Environment
Phone: (780) 427-1350
Or
Jody Rempel, Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Committee Clerk, Standing Committee on Government Services
Phone: (780) 644-8621
The following document has been posted to the Government of Alberta website to view this document online and/or additional information/backgrounder http://www.alberta.ca//acn/200708/21598.html