NEWS:

Agricultural Container Recycling

In January 2022 Clean Farms announced that the <23L Agricultural pesticide and fertilizer container recycling program will transition from a municipal-based collection model to a retail-based collection model across the province of Alberta over the next three years ending December 31, 2024.

Effective January 1st, 2025, Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission no longer accepts the <23L agricultural containers (Eckville, Alix/Mirror, and Prentiss). Retailers in Lacombe County that will take your Agricultural pesticide and fertilizer containers for recycling are:

Central AB Co-op – Lacombe 3407-52 Ave Ph:403-782-2232 (Seed & Pest. Bags, Tote Bags, Ag Containers <23L, Totes and Drums)
Richardson Pioneer – East of Lacombe on Hwy 12 and Range Road 261 Ph:403-782-3033 (Seed & Pest. Bags, Ag Containers <23L, Tote Bags, Totes and Drums)
Nutrien Ag Solutions – Bentley 4801-52 St Ph:403-748-3991 (Seed & Pest. Bags, Tote Bags, Ag Containers <23L, Totes and Drums)
Central AB Co-op – Eckville 4828-50 Ave Ph:403-746-2011 (Seed and Pest. Bags, Tote Bags, Totes and Drums, Ag Containers <23L)
Parrish & Heimbecker – Joffre Hwy Junction 815 & 597 Ph:403-588-7200 (Seed & Pest. Bags, Tote Bags, Ag Containers <23L, Totes and Drums)

LRWSC does not accept Agricultural Seed & Pest. Bags, Tote Bags, and Totes & Drums.

For further information, contact your agricultural chemical retailer or LRWSC @ (403)782-8970.

Pesticides and Livestock Medication Bulletin

Unwanted pesticides & old livestock/equine medications

If you are unsure whether your product fits the scope of this collection, please call Clean Farms at 877-622-4460.

The 2025 Fall collections will happen in the Lacombe Area (Site will be announced early 2025). Please hold onto your unwanted pesticides and livestock/equine medications for 2025 disposal.

Follow 3 steps to ensure that unwanted pesticides & old livestock/equine medications and can be returned in the fall:

1. Gather – Collect your unwanted pesticides & old livestock/animal medications.

2. Place – All items need to be placed in a sealable or spill-proof container.

3. Return – Check to find when this program is taking place in your area then return items to your local collection site.

What‘s In? What’s Out?

WHAT’S IN

Unwanted (or “obsolete”) agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label; including used miticide strips).
Commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label).
Livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm in the rearing of livestock, poultry or horses in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label).

WHAT’S OUT

Fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product
Full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
Needles or sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
Domestic pesticides, fertilizers and animal health products
Any other household hazardous waste.

20L Pail Recycling

Effective July 17, 2023 all LRWSC sites require the lids be removed from all 20L pails to be recycled. The lids can be recycled as well once they are removed from the pail. Please place the pail and separated lids in the appropriate areas of each site.

Clean Farms Twine Recycling Program In Lacombe County

Twine – it’s one of the easiest ag plastics to recycle.

Of all the agricultural plastics on prairie farms, baler twine is one of the easiest to overlook when it comes to a commitment to recycle.

Unlike grain bags, which, when empty, are a massive amount of plastic laying in the field, baler twine accumulates in smaller bunches, seemingly innocuous until they start to take over a corner of the barnyard or wrap around farm equipment axles. Some farmers relegate baler twine to the burn barrel, but that’s one of the worst options for managing it because burning twine releases toxins into the air.

So, what can farmers do with used ag twine?

In Lacombe County, a pilot, ‘Alberta Ag Plastic. Recycle it!’, is underway to give farmers the option to take baler twine to all Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission sites for recycling, giving that old twine a new life.

Cleanfarms, which operates the pilot program on behalf of Alberta’s Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), sends the used baler twine to recycling facilities in Canada and the U.S., where it is turned into pellets to be used in the production of new materials. Twine is made of polypropylene, which is a plastic that can be easily remanufactured into new products such as car parts, dimensional lumber, flowerpots and composite decking.

How to Prepare Twine for Recycling

The pilot program enables twine recycling by offering large, free, twine collection bags. The next three steps are straightforward:

1. Shake – Remove as much debris, snow or ice as possible. Excessive organics and other materials (such as net wrap) mixed with the twine will cause it to be rejected or result in the material being sent to the landfill. Recycling processors wash and shred the plastic, so they need it as clean as possible.

2. Bag – Place loose twine in a clear collection bag. They are available at no cost to farmers and can be obtained from all Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission sites. If using your own clear bag, poke holes in the bottom to drain moisture. With any bag, once full, secure it closed with twine or a zip tie.

3. Return – Please return your clean, full bags of twine to any Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission site.

LRWSC 2023 Board Meeting Dates

The Following dates are the Board Meetings at the LRWSC Administration Building at 1:15pm.

February 19, 2025

April 23, 2025

June 18, 2025

October 15, 2025

November 26, 2025

Approved minutes are available from each meeting by request at admin@lrwsc.ca, or through your local municipality.

Alberta Recycling Management Authority Electronics Program

Launched in 2004, ARMA’s Electronics Recycling Program was the first in Canada to recycle computer equipment, televisions, and select office equipment, and over the last 20 years, ARMA has worked to expand the list of eligible electronics. Albertan’s participation in this program over its lifetime has resulted in 259,762 tonnes of electronics recycled by six ARMA-approved processors!

Starting April 1, 2025, the ePilot material will permanently become part of the electronics recycling program, expanding the list of eligible materials by over 500 types.

Once processed, components from electronics, different metals, glass, and plastics are all used to create new consumer products. Recycling also allows hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium and antimony to be safely and properly handled, keeping them out of landfills.

The electronics recycling program is permanently expanding to include epilot material

Alberta’s Electronics Recycling Program is about to expand! Starting on April 1, 2025, over 500 additional types of electronics, including power tools, microwaves, and even musical instruments, will be permanently eligible for recycling. This move builds on the success of the ePilot program that launched in 2020, which allowed Albertans to recycle a broader range of electronics. By expanding the program, Alberta is taking a crucial step toward reducing waste and creating a more sustainable future.

In addition to everyday electronics, Alberta is leading the way in recycling renewable energy materials. The province will be the first in Canada to develop programs for recycling solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and wind turbine electrical components. As renewable energy continues to grow, these programs will be essential to managing waste and promoting environmental responsibility.

The expansion of the Electronics Recycling Program and the development of renewable energy recycling initiatives are key to building Alberta’s circular economy. With support from the Government of Alberta and industry stakeholders, ARMA is helping to ensure that Albertans can responsibly recycle both current and future technologies, creating a cleaner, greener province.

Eligible Products and Fees

The environmental fees Albertans pay when purchasing select new electronics, ranging from $0.80 to $6, support the associated costs of recycling electronics. There are four recycling depots (collection sites) in Lacombe County where you can take your old electronics so they can be recycled effectively, securely, and in an environmentally safe manner.

LRWSC accepts electronic program materials at the following sites:

Eckville Transfer Station

Bentley Transfer Station

Alix/Mirror Transfer Station

Prentiss Transfer Station

Please inform the site attendant if you have batteries for correct placement of materials at each site.

For more information, call Prentiss Transfer Station (403) 782-8970.

Please visit Alberta Recycling for a list of eligible products in Alberta’s Electronics Recycling Stewardship Program.

Safe Battery Recycling

What is a Household battery?

All consumer single use or rechargeable batteries weighing less than 5 kg each can be recycled.

Single use (non-rechargeable) batteries - includes lithium primary batteries and alkaline/single-use household batteries. These batteries are commonly found in watches, car remotes, TV remote controls, and calculators.

Rechargeable batteries include Nickel cadmium batteries, Small sealed lead acid batteries, Nickel zinc batteries, Nickel metal hydride batteries, Lithium ion / lithium polymer batteries, commonly found in cellphones, digital cameras, laptop computers, cordless power tools, toy ride-on vehicles and other household appliances.

For more details on battery types please see the Call2Recycle website.

Safely store, sort, and ship

If not handled properly, batteries can be a fire hazard.

Some best practice suggestions are:

• Taping over the ends (positive and negative terminals) of each individual lithium battery and button style batteries.

• Separate your taped lithium batteries by putting inside a Ziploc bag and sealing shut.

• Taping off the ends of your lithium and button batteries will ensure that they cannot touch each other to prevent a fire from occurring.

What happens to recycled batteries? According to Call2Recycle, when batteries are recycled at various processors, valuable metals can be recovered and used into new products such as silverware, pots and pans, new batteries, and even golf clubs.

Please note that the Electronics Recycling Program is for residentially used electronics only, commercial items will not be accepted. Residential Air Conditioner units are only accepted at the Eckville and Prentiss sites and are subject to the current charges and procedures outlined under those sites.