On July 7, 2026, the Waste Bylaw will be presented to Council with important updates for the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sector, as well as multi-family residences.

The main change is that all multi-family properties in Strathcona County will be required to sort their organics and recycling from waste the same as the single-family residential waste program.

At its core, this updated bylaw is about setting clear standards for waste across Strathcona County—one where waste diversion is consistent, widely participated in, and simply part of how our community functions.

These changes will align multi-family properties with the goals of the County’s Waste Roadmap and standardize waste services for all residential properties. The goal is for all multi-family properties to offer the same waste services, send less waste to the landfill and make it easier for people to recycle and compost throughout the community.

Current situation

Multi-family residential properties are an integral part of the residential waste system, however rules for recycling and organics have not been consistent. Currently rules differ depending on the age of the building.

• Built before 2015: paper and cardboard recycling only.

• Built in 2015 or later: commingled recycling and organics are required.

Service is provided by a mix of private haulers and County services, which can lead to uneven access and confusing education. Different approaches from building to building make the program hard to manage and creates inconsistencies for residents.

What is being proposed

To create a more consistent system, the County is proposing that:

• All multi-family properties, no matter the building age, will need to divert organics and all recycling. This will ensure multi-family residents have access to the same diversion options as single-family homes.

• Multi-family collection will transition to County collection services within one year of the bylaw being approved. This will allow the County to take advantage of economies of scale to offer more cost effective waste collection.

  This will improve service and education consistency and ensure all buildings can benefit from the provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, which is expected to cover recycling costs starting in October 2026.

What this means for multi-family buildings:

The County will work with all multi-family owners/property managers to transition to County collection services for garbage, recycling and organics.

• All multi-family residents will have the ability to separate waste into three streams: garbage, recycling, and organics.

• The County will support implementation through a phased program roll-out to allow buildings time to transition, kitchen catchers for each unit, educational guides and posters for communal collection areas, and on-site advisory support and resident information sessions upon request.

• All multi-family properties will continue to submit annual waste diversion compliance plans through an online portal.

• The County will facilitate multi-family buildings subscribe to the provincial EPR program for recycling.

Timeline

Dates are subject to change based on the date the bylaw is approved.

• July 2026: Public hearing & Council Bylaw readings

• Fall 2026: Start moving existing buildings from private contracts to County collection services.

• October 2026: Multi-family recycling becomes eligible for the provincial EPR program (recycling credits may be available).

• June 2027: All multi-family buildings are expected to meet the new requirements and utilize County collection services.
  (12 months after bylaw approval)

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program

In October 2026, multi-family recycling will become eligible for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a provincial program that helps cover recycling costs, creating cost savings for residents. Under the current system, accessing these benefits may depend on each building’s contract.

The County will help coordinate the transition to the provincial EPR program and support buildings through the process. However, registration with Circular Materials must be completed by each individual building.