Expanded Recycling Program
More recycling options for Rochon Sands
Beginning October 1, 2026, Rochon Sands has a new expanded recycling program through Circular Materials as part of Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility program. Expanding recycling opportunities has been identified by residents and Council as a priority and forms part of Council’s Strategic Plan.
The new service replaces our current cardboard-only recycling with a much broader range of accepted household packaging and paper products. The new recycling bins will be located in the same location as the existing cardboard recycling bin at the Municipal Office/Village Square.
Important: Recycling must be placed clean and loose in the bins — not in bags. Deposit-bearing beverage containers such as pop, beer, wine and liquor containers will continue to go in the Summer Village bottle recycling box between the garbage and recycling bins.
The new service replaces our current cardboard-only recycling with a much broader range of accepted household packaging and paper products. The new recycling bins will be located in the same location as the existing cardboard recycling bin at the Municipal Office/Village Square.
Important: Recycling must be placed clean and loose in the bins — not in bags. Deposit-bearing beverage containers such as pop, beer, wine and liquor containers will continue to go in the Summer Village bottle recycling box between the garbage and recycling bins.
Quick Details
- Started: October 1, 2026
- Location: Municipal Office/Village Square — same location as the current cardboard recycling bin
- Collection cost: Paid through the Extended Producer Responsibility program — not by local taxpayers
- Most important rule: Recyclables must be placed CLEAN and LOOSE in the bin — not bagged
What Can Go in the New Recycling Bins?
The new program accepts a much broader range of materials, including plastic bottles and containers, plastic food containers, toothpaste and deodorant tubes, plastic bags and film packaging, snack wrappers and chip bags, stand-up plastic pouches, paper and cardboard, beverage cups and lids, soup and broth cartons, paper laminate packaging, metal food cans, aluminum trays and foil, glass food and cosmetic containers, foam packaging, and certain empty household personal-care and food aerosol containers.
Important: Deposit-bearing beverage containers such as pop, beer, wine and liquor containers do not go in these bins. They continue to go in the Summer Village bottle recycling box between the garbage bins.
Recycling Must Go in LOOSE
Recyclables must be placed clean and loose directly into the recycling bin. You may use a tote, basket, box or reusable bag to collect and transport recycling from home, but the contents must be emptied loose into the bin.
Please do not bag your recycling
How to Use the New Bins
- Collect accepted recyclables at home.
- Empty food and liquids from containers and keep recyclables reasonably clean.
- Bring them to the recycling area at the Municipal Office/Village Square.
- Empty recyclables LOOSE into the bin — do not leave them in a bag.
Easy Ways to Collect Recycling at Home
Use a reusable tote or laundry basket, reuse a cardboard box, use a reusable shopping bag for transporting materials, or keep separate garbage and recycling containers at home.
Whatever method you use:
Collect it however you like at home — but empty it LOOSE into the recycling bin.
Whatever method you use:
Collect it however you like at home — but empty it LOOSE into the recycling bin.
What Is Contamination?
Contamination occurs when garbage or other materials that are not accepted in the recycling program are placed in the recycling bin.
Examples include garbage bags, refundable beverage containers that belong in the separate bottle recycling box, propane tanks, paint and cleaners, diapers, food and organic waste, paper towel, toys, books, batteries, pots and pans, ceramics, clothing and garden hoses.
Why contamination matters
This program will only work if we all use it properly. High levels of contamination can jeopardize the success and continuation of the recycling program at our site. Circular Materials monitors contamination, so it is important that only accepted materials are placed in the recycling bins.
Before you put something in the bin, ask:
- Is it recyclable?
- Is it reasonably clean?
- Am I putting it in loose?
Bottle Depot Containers Stay Separate
If you paid a bottle deposit on it, it does NOT go in the new recycling bins.
Pop cans, beer cans, wine bottles, liquor bottles and other deposit-bearing beverage containers continue to go into the Summer Village bottle recycling box located between the garbage and recycling bins.
These containers are handled separately through Alberta’s beverage-container recycling system and are not part of the new Circular Materials depot program.
These containers are handled separately through Alberta’s beverage-container recycling system and are not part of the new Circular Materials depot program.
If you paid a bottle deposit on it, put it in the Summer Village bottle recycling box
— not the new recycling bins.
Why Is the Recycling Program Changing?
Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility system changes how recycling is funded. Rather than municipalities and local taxpayers paying the full cost of recycling packaging and paper products, responsibility is shifted to the producers that supply those products and packaging into the marketplace.
For Rochon Sands, this means a much broader range of recycling options for residents, collection and processing paid for through Circular Materials, and compensation to the Summer Village for participating in and maintaining the recycling depot.
For Rochon Sands, this means a much broader range of recycling options for residents, collection and processing paid for through Circular Materials, and compensation to the Summer Village for participating in and maintaining the recycling depot.
More Recycling — No Collection Cost to Local Taxpayers
Instead of Rochon Sands taxpayers paying for a limited cardboard collection service, Circular Materials will pay for the collection and processing of a much broader range of recyclable materials and will also compensate the Summer Village for participating in and maintaining the depot.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new recycling program start?
Where are the new recycling bins located?
Do I have to separate the different recyclables?
Can I put my recycling in a blue or clear recycling bag?
But plastic bags are listed as recyclable. How does that work?
How should I collect recycling at home?
Do recyclables need to be washed?
Where do pop cans, beer cans, wine bottles and liquor bottles go?
What is contamination?
Why is contamination important?
Can batteries go in the recycling bins?
Can propane tanks go in the recycling bins?
Can aerosol containers be recycled?
What happens to our existing cardboard recycling?
Can cardboard still be recycled?
Can I leave recycling beside the bins if they are full?
Why did the Summer Village join this program?
Who is Circular Materials?
- The new recycling program began October 1, 2026.
Where are the new recycling bins located?
- The new bins are located at the Municipal Office/Village Square, in the same location as the existing cardboard recycling bin.
Do I have to separate the different recyclables?
- No. The accepted materials can be placed together in the new recycling bins.
Can I put my recycling in a blue or clear recycling bag?
- No. All recyclables must be emptied loose into the recycling bin. Do not leave recycling inside a black bag, blue bag, clear bag or any other collection bag.
But plastic bags are listed as recyclable. How does that work?
- Plastic bags and film packaging themselves are accepted recyclable materials. However, they cannot be used as a bag to hold other recycling. Place the recyclable plastic bag or film itself loose into the bin.
How should I collect recycling at home?
- Use whatever works best for your household — a tote, basket, cardboard box, reusable shopping bag or home recycling container. Bring it to the depot, empty the contents loose into the recycling bin, and take your container home with you.
Do recyclables need to be washed?
- Containers do not need to be spotless, but food and liquids should be emptied and recyclables should be reasonably clean before they are placed in the bin.
Where do pop cans, beer cans, wine bottles and liquor bottles go?
- They continue to go into the Summer Village bottle recycling box located between the garbage bins. Deposit-bearing beverage containers are not part of the new Circular Materials recycling stream.
What is contamination?
- Contamination is garbage or other non-accepted material placed in the recycling stream. Examples include garbage, food waste, batteries, propane tanks, clothing, ceramics and hazardous materials.
Why is contamination important?
- High contamination can jeopardize the success and continuation of the recycling program at our site. Keeping garbage and other non-accepted materials out of the recycling bins helps ensure the program remains successful.
Can batteries go in the recycling bins?
- No. Batteries are not accepted in the Circular Materials recycling bins.
Can propane tanks go in the recycling bins?
- No. Propane tanks are not accepted.
Can aerosol containers be recycled?
- Certain empty household personal-care and food aerosol containers, such as deodorant, hairspray, air freshener and cooking-oil sprays, are accepted. Paint, chemical cleaners and other hazardous aerosols are not.
What happens to our existing cardboard recycling?
- The new Circular Materials program replaces the existing cardboard-only recycling service. Paper and cardboard are accepted in the new recycling bins.
Can cardboard still be recycled?
- Yes. Clean cardboard is accepted in the new recycling bins as part of the expanded program.
Can I leave recycling beside the bins if they are full?
- No. Recycling should only be placed inside the designated recycling bins. If the bins are full or there is a problem at the site, please contact the Municipal Office.
Why did the Summer Village join this program?
- Expanded recycling opportunities have been identified by residents and Council as a priority and are part of Council’s Strategic Plan. The program allows Rochon Sands to provide a much broader recycling service while Circular Materials pays for collection and processing and compensates the municipality for participating in the program.
Who is Circular Materials?
- Circular Materials is the organization responsible for managing the recycling system in which Rochon Sands is participating under Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility framework.
Printable Recycling Resources
CLEAN. LOOSE. RECYCLABLE.
NO GARBAGE. NO BLACK BAGS. NO BAGGED RECYCLING.
With everyone’s cooperation, we can make expanded recycling a permanent and successful service for Rochon Sands.
Questions or Assistance
If you have questions about waste disposal, recycling, or the appropriate location for specific materials, please contact the municipal office for assistance.
Residents are encouraged to confirm disposal requirements before transporting materials to ensure they are taken to the correct facility.
Residents are encouraged to confirm disposal requirements before transporting materials to ensure they are taken to the correct facility.