Environmental Initiatives

The Town is invested in a number of environmental initiatives that promote and enhance stewardship of our natural areas, energy, and practices throughout the year. Details for initiatives are outlined below as well as information on how you can get involved! Upcoming environmental initiatives will also be in the calendar.

Initiatives

Events
Arbour Day Arbour day is an annual tree planting community event hosted by the Town to revitalize parks around Stony Plain. Details for each year's event will be posted to the Community Calendar. Christmas Tree Recycling Annual Christmas Tree Drop Off event to help residents dispose of their Christmas trees. Trees should be unwrapped and free of any decorations. Stony Plain residents can participate in this green initiative by dropping off their Christmas trees to the Rotary Recycling Centre (4505 50 Avenue) between December 28 and January 28. Look for the bins marked Organics to place your tree in. If you are unable to lift the tree into the bin, please place the tree on the ground beside the bin and attendants will take care of it. Don't Just Trash It! Don't Just Trash It! is an ongoing waste disposal initiative aimed at promoting sustainable practices and mitigating the amount of organic and recyclable waste sent to the landfill. The campaign works to keep residents informed on waste disposal practices and communicate any changes to recycling guidelines. Follow the adventures of Smarty Pants to learn more about what goes where and how you can practice sustainable waste practices! Large Item Drop Off Large Item Drop Off is open to Stony Plain residents only. The event will be held May 7, 2023 at the Public Works Yard (4505 50 Ave) from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. There is no maximum number of items you can drop off, but you must be able to unload your items into the proper bins or purchase a ticket for pickup in late summer. Please note: this is not a take it or leave it event. You cannot take items that have been dropped off by other residents. PITCH-IN Week Lend a hand and help clean up your neighborhood during PITCH-IN Week (April 15 - 23). We encourage you to volunteer your time to help make Stony Plain more environmentally friendly by cleaning up, restoring, and preserving local greenspace. Registration for 2023 is closed. Watch for registration in 2024 in March. This initiative runs in conjunction with Earth Day and Volunteer Week. Shred & Go Protect yourself against identify theft - Bring your personal and confidential documents to Rotary Recycling Centre on September 24, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to have them disposed of in a safe and secure manner. Due to the growing popularity of this event, some restrictions apply: Shred-It will be available to Stony Plain residents only. Proof of residency will be required on-site. Limit of 10 banker boxes per vehicle No advance drop offs will be accepted Treasure Hunt Join the Treasure Hunt fun! Shop the front lawns of participating neighbours to see what treasures they have up for grabs. The Treasure Hunt will run Friday, May 5 to Saturday, May 6, 2023. If you are participating in the Treasure Hunt, please remember to remove any leftover items from the curbside after the event. Tri-Municipal Rain Barrel Sale Each year, the Town offers rebates on rain barrels at the Rain Barrel Sale to encourage residents to reuse rainwater. The 2022 Tri-Municipal Rain Barrel Sale will take place on Saturday, May 14, starting at 7 a.m. at RONA in Spruce Grove. Barrels will be sold at a reduced price of $87.99 for the event day only until supplies last.
Policies
Reducing Air Pollution The Fire Services Bylaw prohibits the burning of hazardous materials, as well as ensuring that recreational fires are safe and controlled. The Traffic Bylaw prohibits vehicles from idling for more than 30 minutes. Waste Audit In partnership with GFL, Stony Plain undertook a waste audit to pinpoint problem areas with residential waste disposal and mitigate the amount of recyclables and organics being sent to the landfill. GFL crews went house-to-house and audit garbage, organics, and recycling at each residence. Organic bins and blue bags found to be contaminated will be stickered and left behind to be collected on the next collection day. The audit is anticipated to begin August 16, 2022 and will continue until all residences have been completed.
Practices
Air Monitoring Station The Town monitors air quality through our air monitoring station, data displayed in real time. Heritage Park Pavilion Water Collection The Town collects and reuses water at Heritage Park to reduce the facility's water consumption. LED Traffic Light Replacement Program Old less energy-efficient traffic lights are being replaced with modern LED lighting at the time of replacement. Safe Hydrant Flushing When the Town needs to flush fire hydrants, they use dichlorination pucks to protect stream courses and storm water management facilities from treated water. Skating Rink Flooding The Town uses pumped groundwater instead of treated municipal water when filling the skating rinks in the winter. Trail Solar Lighting The Town is implementing new solar lighting along some of the trails.
Garbage, Organics, and Recycling
Garbage (grey cart) is collected every two weeks according to zone. Organics (green cart) is collected every week May through October and every two weeks November through April. Blue bag recycling is collected every week. More information on what items go where can be found on the Garbage, Organics and Recycling page. Download the Recycle Coach App for your weekly schedule and notifications or subscribe to schedule changes.

Events

Arbour Day

Arbour day is an annual tree planting community event hosted by the Town to revitalize parks around Stony Plain. Details for each year's event will be posted to the Community Calendar.

Christmas Tree Recycling

Annual Christmas Tree Drop Off event to help residents dispose of their Christmas trees. Trees should be unwrapped and free of any decorations. Stony Plain residents can participate in this green initiative by dropping off their Christmas trees to the Rotary Recycling Centre (4505 50 Avenue) between December 28 and January 28. Look for the bins marked Organics to place your tree in.

If you are unable to lift the tree into the bin, please place the tree on the ground beside the bin and attendants will take care of it.

Don't Just Trash It!

Don't Just Trash It! is an ongoing waste disposal initiative aimed at promoting sustainable practices and mitigating the amount of organic and recyclable waste sent to the landfill. The campaign works to keep residents informed on waste disposal practices and communicate any changes to recycling guidelines.

Follow the adventures of Smarty Pants to learn more about what goes where and how you can practice sustainable waste practices!

Large Item Drop Off

Large Item Drop Off is open to Stony Plain residents only. The event will be held May 7, 2023 at the Public Works Yard (4505 50 Ave) from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. There is no maximum number of items you can drop off, but you must be able to unload your items into the proper bins or purchase a ticket for pickup in late summer.

Please note: this is not a take it or leave it event. You cannot take items that have been dropped off by other residents.

PITCH-IN Week

Lend a hand and help clean up your neighborhood during PITCH-IN Week (April 15 - 23). We encourage you to volunteer your time to help make Stony Plain more environmentally friendly by cleaning up, restoring, and preserving local greenspace. Registration for 2023 is closed.

Watch for registration in 2024 in March. This initiative runs in conjunction with Earth Day and Volunteer Week.

Shred & Go

Protect yourself against identify theft - Bring your personal and confidential documents to Rotary Recycling Centre on September 24, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to have them disposed of in a safe and secure manner.

Due to the growing popularity of this event, some restrictions apply:

Shred-It will be available to Stony Plain residents only. Proof of residency will be required on-site.
Limit of 10 banker boxes per vehicle
No advance drop offs will be accepted

Treasure Hunt

Join the Treasure Hunt fun! Shop the front lawns of participating neighbours to see what treasures they have up for grabs.

The Treasure Hunt will run Friday, May 5 to Saturday, May 6, 2023. If you are participating in the Treasure Hunt, please remember to remove any leftover items from the curbside after the event.

Tri-Municipal Rain Barrel Sale

Each year, the Town offers rebates on rain barrels at the Rain Barrel Sale to encourage residents to reuse rainwater.

The 2022 Tri-Municipal Rain Barrel Sale will take place on Saturday, May 14, starting at 7 a.m. at RONA in Spruce Grove. Barrels will be sold at a reduced price of $87.99 for the event day only until supplies last.

Policies

Reducing Air Pollution

The Fire Services Bylaw prohibits the burning of hazardous materials, as well as ensuring that recreational fires are safe and controlled.

The Traffic Bylaw prohibits vehicles from idling for more than 30 minutes.

Waste Audit

In partnership with GFL, Stony Plain undertook a waste audit to pinpoint problem areas with residential waste disposal and mitigate the amount of recyclables and organics being sent to the landfill.

GFL crews went house-to-house and audit garbage, organics, and recycling at each residence. Organic bins and blue bags found to be contaminated will be stickered and left behind to be collected on the next collection day.

The audit is anticipated to begin August 16, 2022 and will continue until all residences have been completed.

Practices

Air Monitoring Station

The Town monitors air quality through our air monitoring station, data displayed in real time.

Heritage Park Pavilion Water Collection

The Town collects and reuses water at Heritage Park to reduce the facility's water consumption.

LED Traffic Light Replacement Program

Old less energy-efficient traffic lights are being replaced with modern LED lighting at the time of replacement.

Safe Hydrant Flushing

When the Town needs to flush fire hydrants, they use dichlorination pucks to protect stream courses and storm water management facilities from treated water.

Skating Rink Flooding

The Town uses pumped groundwater instead of treated municipal water when filling the skating rinks in the winter.

Trail Solar Lighting

The Town is implementing new solar lighting along some of the trails.

Garbage, Organics, and Recycling

Garbage (grey cart) is collected every two weeks according to zone. Organics (green cart) is collected every week May through October and every two weeks November through April. Blue bag recycling is collected every week.

More information on what items go where can be found on the Garbage, Organics and Recycling page. Download the Recycle Coach App for your weekly schedule and notifications or subscribe to schedule changes.