A city north of Calgary offers rain barrel, compost discounts

CARDS — The Old City has taken two steps to encourage residents to conserve water and be environmentally friendly in general.

The municipality offers discounts of 50% to a maximum of $50 per item to residents who purchase and use a rain barrel and/or home composter.

“By encouraging the adoption of rainwater harvesting and home composting practices, the city aims to reduce water consumption, ease the burden on municipal infrastructure and reduce organic waste sent to landfills,” according to the city's website.

Chief Administrative Officer Brent Williams promoted two relief programs in a committee of the whole meeting of the City Council on May 6.

Number. James Cummings said he and a local businessman came up with the idea to promote the two programs.

Cummings suggested that administrative staff contact local suppliers of rain barrels and composters to promote the program and provide a direct link, perhaps a QR code.

At the very least, signs promoting the program should be available, he said.

“I think it's great to promote the town of Olds. A lot of people walk through those columns and see that the city of Olds is doing a rebate program that helps the environment,” he said.

“If everyone who wants to buy a rain barrel can see that they can get $50 off a rain barrel, I think that would improve the program exponentially,” he added.

Williams described it as a “good idea.”

“We'll look into it, see what we can find,” he said.