Show All Answers

1. What is changing?

The Town of Banff is implementing a material ban that would require all non-residential sector entities to separate food scraps and recycling from garbage. Garbage bins that contain visible amounts of food scraps and recycling (no more than 10%) will no longer be acceptable and could be subject to fines.

2. Why is the Town implementing this ban?

It's estimated that food scraps and recycling are the most significant material that could be diverted from garbage that goes to landfill in the non-residential sector. Food scraps and recycling do not break down in the landfill and cause harmful methane emissions that are over 30 times more powerful than C02.

3. How can I get my program set up?

The Town of Banff provides all businesses with zero waste assistance including program set-up advice and staff engagement tips. Businesses that are new to waste diversion and begin separating before the bylaw comes into effect will be provided with a free starter kit including a decal kit and compostable bags.

Additional How-To information is available at BanffZeroWasteTrail.ca/Commercial.

4. Where do I dispose of my food scraps?

All buildings in Banff are required to provide bins for diversion of food scraps, garbage and cardboard. These bins are collected by the Town of Banff Resource Recovery.

If your building does not have food bins, contact your building owner or email zero.waste@banff.ca to get help setting up a program.

5. What do I do with my recycling?

Recyclable materials generated by businesses may be disposed of free of charge at the Waste Transfer Site or in any blue recycling bin around town. Businesses may also choose to hire a private hauler. Recyclable materials include:

• Plastic
  
• Metal (tin)
  
• Paper
  
• Glass

6. Who is responsible for ensuring my establishment is in compliance with the material ban?

Non-residential owners are responsible for providing appropriate bins and informing occupants of their premises of the requirement to separate food scraps and recycling from garbage.

Business operators, managers, and employees are responsible for separating materials within their operation. 

7. When will the requirement come into effect?

The requirement comes into effect October 1, 2022.

Enforcement will not be conducted until January, 2023, which would allow for an extended grace period acknowledging that some types of establishments (ex. Hotels) may need time to adjust to the requirement and implement operational changes.

8. How will the bylaw be enforced?

An education-first approach will be used to inform the owner of a non-residential premises when they are not in compliance with the bylaw, by way of administrative warnings and education. Town of Banff staff would reach out, provide educational resources, and collaborate with the establishment for up to a month before enforcing fines, with the shared goal being to reach compliance.

In the case compliance is not reached, Municipal Enforcement will issue warnings and voluntary payments (fines) as listed in the bylaw.

9. What happens to my food scraps after the Town collects it?

The material is taken to a facility in central Alberta where it is turned into compost and then used as a soil amendment. It is important to dispose of food scraps and food-soiled paper as compost because it does not break down in the landfill.