Rocky Mountain House residents will see changes to their recycling program this fall as a new organization takes over management and more materials will be accepted at the curb. Starting October 1, 2026, Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit, will manage the town’s recycling service.
Residents should now call Empringham Disposal Corp with any recycling questions. The Red Deer-based company can be reached at 403-392-3870 or [email protected]. Empringham Disposal has been collecting recycling in the area for several years and will continue to pick up bins on the same schedule residents are used to.
In mid-July, households will start getting information about what new items will be accepted. Phase 2 of Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility program brings a standard list of recyclables to all communities. That means glass containers, foam packaging, flexible plastic packaging, aerosol cans, and laminated paper and plastic packaging will soon go in the blue bin instead of the trash.
The change is the latest step in Alberta’s move to shift recycling costs away from towns and taxpayers. Under the new rules, the companies that make packaging and paper products pay the full cost of recycling them. Rocky Mountain House used to cover curbside recycling through a roughly $2 monthly fee on utility bills, but that financial responsibility now belongs to producers.
The Eco Centre at 5313-44 Street will still be open for residents with a Rocky Pass, which comes with the utility base rate. The centre accepts a wider range of items and is not affected by the October changes.
