The Town of Sylvan Lake is moving forward with a long-term plan to modernize how waste is collected and managed across the community. On March 12, 2026, Town Council unanimously approved the Municipal Solid Waste Master Plan and Implementation Plan, which sets a goal to increase the town’s current 22.6 per cent waste diversion rate to 35 per cent.
The approved plan outlines a multi-year schedule for changing local collection services. Beginning in April 2028, the town will introduce year-round organic waste collection. Six months later, in October 2028, residents will transition to a bi-weekly schedule for regular garbage pickup. To support these operational changes, the town has already authorized a $410,000 tender for a new solid waste collection vehicle.
Updates to the waste system also include fee adjustments. On April 14, 2026, Council granted second and third reading to the Waste Bylaw, which implements a two per cent increase to curbside garbage collection fees.
The plan also includes the closure of the West End Recycling Facility. The facility is set to close once the existing hauling services contract expires in July 2027, or when funding through the Extended Producer Responsibility program ends, whichever comes later. During discussions on the plan, Councillor Holly Bilodeau noted concerns regarding this closure, pointing out that as the community grows to the west, more residents will be required to travel further to reach the town’s primary waste transfer site.
The Solid Waste Master Plan was developed using feedback collected during public consultations in 2025, which included an open house and an online survey managed by the consulting firm GHD Canada. The town continues to host information and a question-and-answer section on its engagement website for residents interested in reviewing the details of the upcoming changes.
