Total – 31,808 kg
       
        Aluminum – 608 kg
        Commingled* - 7,435 kg
        Office Paper – 908 kg
        Cardboard – 20,280 kg
        Glass – 2,956 kg
        

Total for 2024 – 427,967 kg
Total for 2023 – 465,181 kg
Difference – - 37,215 kg

Fluorescent Bulbs – 22 four foot boxes, 3 eight foot boxes

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting

Comments –  We were behind in processing some of the recyclables at the Centre as we were missing a full time person for four months and a part time person the last three weeks. There were 12 bales of cardboard outside waiting to be processed as well. 

This small amount doesn't explain our shortage of 37 tonnes. The biggest drop is office paper (14.5 tonnes) which isn't as concerning at the 5.8 tonnes drop in commingled materials or residential single stream. This would indicate that fewer households are recycling and/or there is less packaging. Less packaging would be a good thing, fewer households is a concern. Corrugated cardboard dropped 10 tonnes. 
​
Aluminum cans held their own, dropping only 149 kg which is just over one bale. 

I am aware that recycling rates are down in some other places. I was hoping our rates would increase with the restriction in the number of garbage bags picked up by the City.  There are still many households that are not recycling. 

We will be doing more promotion in 2025. Here's hoping we will reverse this trend. 

 
 Total – 31,568 kg
       
        Aluminum – 485 kg
        Commingled* - 7,364 kg
        Office Paper – 1,781 kg
        Cardboard – 19,970 kg
        Glass – 1,968 kg
        Books –   kg
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges

Total for 2024 – 315,568 kg
Total for 2023 – 427,471 kg
Difference – - 31,312 kg

E – waste –    8.68 metric tonnes shipped in October
 
* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

        Aluminum – 694 kg
        Commingled* - 10,508 kg
        Office Paper – 2,513 kg
        Cardboard – 23,606 kg
        Glass – 3,441 kg
       

Total for 2024 – 364,591 kg
Total for 2023 – 392,125 kg
Difference – - 27,534 kg


E – waste –  8,682 kg shipped
 

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 
 Total – 35,909 kg
       
        Aluminum – 479 kg
        Commingled* - 8,362 kg
        Office Paper – 1,750 kg
        Cardboard – 22,014 kg
        Glass – 3,304 kg
        Books –
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges

Total for 2024 – 323,829 kg
Total for 2023 – 351,206 kg
Difference – - 27,377 kg


 Fluorescent Bulbs – 23 four foot boxes, 7 eight foot boxes

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting

 Total – 38,462 kg
       
        Aluminum – 948 kg
        Commingled* - 8,654 kg
        Office Paper – 1,967 kg
        Cardboard – 22,816 kg
        Glass – 3,260 kg
        Books – 817
        

Total for 2024 – 287,290 kg
Total for 2023 – 312,939 kg
Difference – - 25,019 kg

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 Total – 40,859 kg
       
        Aluminum – 838 kg
        Commingled* - 9,533 kg
        Office Paper – 1,936 kg
        Cardboard – 24,604 kg
        Glass – 3,818 kg
        Other plastics – 130 kg
      

Total for 2024 – 249,458 kg
Total for 2023 – 269,780 kg
Difference – - 20,322 kg

Batteries –   568 kg

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 Total – 35,972 kg
       
        Aluminum – 599 kg
        Commingled* - 9,159 kg
        Office Paper – 1,505 kg
        Cardboard – 22,243 kg
        Glass – 2,894 kg
        Books –  
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges

Total for 2024 – 208,599 kg
Total for 2023 – 227,068 kg
Difference – - 18,469 kg


E – waste –  8.5 metric tons shipped in June


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 
 Total – 38,314 kg
       
        Aluminum – 702 kg
        Commingled* - 9,468 kg
        Office Paper – 2,722 kg
        Cardboard – 20,642 kg
        Glass – 3,910 kg
        Books –  870 kg
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges

Total for 2024 – 172,627 kg
Total for 2023 – 185,625 kg
Difference – - 12,998 kg

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting

Print and Packaging Materials

Total – 35,969 kg
       
        Aluminum – 596 kg
        Commingled* - 8,305 kg
        Office Paper – 1,864 kg
        Cardboard – 21,979 kg
        Glass – 3,225 kg
   
Total for 2024 – 134.313 kg
Total for 2023 – 144,154 kg
Difference – - 9,841 kg

Fluorescent Bulbs – 28 boxes

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 
 Total – 31,252 kg
       
        Aluminum – 306 kg
        Commingled* - 7,287 kg
        Office Paper – 1,921 kg
        Cardboard – 19,107 kg
        Glass – 2,577 kg
        

Total for 2024 – 98,344 kg
Total for 2023 – 107,705 kg
Difference – - 9,361 kg
  
Fluorescent Bulbs – 29 boxes

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

Total – 31,225 kg
       
        Aluminum – 475 kg
        Commingled* - 6,882 kg
        Office Paper – 1,924 kg
        Cardboard – 17,477 kg
        Glass – 2,253 kg
        Books –  2,244 kg
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges

Total for 2024 – 67,902 kg
Total for 2023 – 71,158 kg
Difference – - 4,066 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 Total – 35,837 kg
       
        Aluminum – 591 kg
        Commingled* - 8,687 kg
        Office Paper – 2,259 kg
        Cardboard – 20,950 kg
        Glass – 3,350 kg
       

Total for 2024 – 35,837 kg
Total for 2023 – 39,194 kg
Difference – - 3,357 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

 Total – 37,710 kg
       
        Aluminum – 485 kg
        Commingled* - 8,892 kg
        Office Paper – 3,178 kg
        Cardboard – 21,921 kg
        Glass – 3,164 kg
        

Total for 2023 – 465,181 kg
Total for 2022 – 509,929 kg
Difference – - 44,748 kg

 
Batteries –  571 kg

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments –  Reduced recycling rates continued this year. We recycled the same amount of print and packaging material as we did in 2017. 

We are not alone. While the population loss and closing of HudBay has had some effect, but recycling tonnages are going down in many municipalities. I confirmed this in a recent conversation with someone from the City of Winnipeg. 
I think that we have close to 50% of the population recycling along with many businesses and institutions. There are still many who have not made recycling a habit. It is unfortunate as it saves space and lots of taxpayers money for landfills, as well as reducing green house gases and making garbage useful again. 

​ Total – 35,346 kg
       
        Aluminum – 476 kg
        Commingled* - 7,135 kg
        Office Paper – 2,319 kg
        Cardboard – 21,323 kg
        Glass – 2,985 kg
        Books – 868 kg
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges – 222 kg

Total for 2023 – 427,471 kg
Total for 2022 – 474,606 kg
Difference – - 47,135 kg


E – waste –   8,831 kg
 
Fluorescent Bulbs – 25 boxes

​ Total – 40,919 kg
       
        Aluminum – 689 kg
        Commingled* - 9,776 kg
        Office Paper – 2,760 kg
        Cardboard – 22,833 kg
        Glass – 3,987 kg
        Books –  kg
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges –  kg

Total for 2023 – 392,125 kg
Total for 2022 – 436,513 kg
Difference – - 44,388 kg

​ Total – 38,267 kg
       
        Aluminum – 580 kg
        Commingled* - 8,856 kg
        Office Paper – 3,876 kg
        Cardboard – 21,258 kg
        Glass – 3,697 kg
        Books –  
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges –

Total for 2023 – 351,206 kg
Total for 2022 – 398,156 kg
Difference – - 46,950 kg

 Total – 43,159 kg
       
        Aluminum – 716 kg
        Commingled* - 9,623 kg
        Office Paper – 3,257 kg
        Cardboard – 24,796 kg
        Glass – 3,935 kg
        Books –  832 kg
        

Total for 2023 – 312,939 kg
Total for 2022 – 355,078 kg
Difference – - 42,139 kg


Fluorescent Bulbs –  43 boxes

Total – 42,712 kg
       
        Aluminum – 937 kg
        Commingled* - 9,022 kg
        Office Paper – 4,813 kg
        Cardboard – 23,246 kg
        Glass – 4,694 kg
        Books –   
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges –

Total for 2023 – 269,780 kg
Total for 2022 – 307,025 kg
Difference – - 37,245 kg


E – waste –   9.8 tonnes

June total – 41,443 kg
       
        Aluminum – 586 kg
        Commingled* - 9,311 kg
        Office Paper – 2,828 kg
        Cardboard – 24,333 kg
        Glass – 3,344 kg
        Books –   755 kg
        Other plastics – 135
        Printer Cartridges – 100 kg

Total for 2023 – 227,068 kg
Total for 2022 – 259,120 kg
Difference – - 32,052 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

​May total – 41,471 kg
       
        Aluminum – 813 kg
        Commingled* - 10,313 kg
        Office Paper – 2,752 kg
        Cardboard – 24,303 kg
        Glass – 3,190 kg
        Books –   kg
        Other plastics – 100
        Printer Cartridges –kg

Total for 2023 – 185,625kg
Total for 2022 – 209,885 kg
Difference – - 24,260 kg


E – waste –   8.81 metric tonnes
 
Batteries – 545 kg
Fluorescent Bulbs –  43 boxes

​April total – 36,449 kg
       
        Aluminum – 591 kg
        Commingled* - 8,440 kg
        Office Paper – 2,564 kg
        Cardboard – 20,472 kg
        Glass – 3,376 kg
        Books –   kg
        Other plastics – 100
        Printer Cartridges –kg

Total for 2023 – 144,154kg
Total for 2022 – 161,106 kg
Difference – - 16,952 kg

March total – 36,457 kg
       
        Aluminum – 583 kg
        Commingled* - 9,199 kg
        Office Paper – 2,577 kg
        Cardboard – 21,183 kg
        Glass – 3,390 kg
      

Total for 2023 – 107,705 kg
Total for 2022 – 119,578 kg
Difference – - 11,873 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments –  We are behind last year overall, but the details show that corrugated cardboard and office paper account for the majority of the shortfall. Commingled materials, aluminum and glass are very close to last year's totals at this time. 
This is expected as office paper was usually high the past two years as HB was cleaning out offices and sending their shredded paper to us. We have lost most of  the cardboard from HB and two other business have closed. The bales of cardboard from the Coop and Canadian Tire are also very close to last year's totals at the end of March

February total – 31,624 kg
       
        Aluminum – 467 kg
        Commingled* - 7,198 kg
        Office Paper – 3,100 kg
        Cardboard – 21,403 kg
        Glass – 2,529 kg
        Books –   
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges –

Total for 2023 – 71,158 kg
Total for 2022 – 76,687 kg
Difference – - 5,529 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

January total – 39,194 kg
       
        Aluminum – 601 kg
        Commingled* - 9,081 kg
        Office Paper – 3,548 kg
        Cardboard – 21,403 kg
        Glass – 3,584 kg
        

Total for 2023 – 39,194kg
Total for 2022 – 40,154 kg
Difference – - 906 kg


* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – 

December total – 35,323 kg
       
        Aluminum – 124 kg
        Commingled* - 8,878kg
        Office Paper – 1,313 kg
        Cardboard – 21,700 kg
        Glass – 2,959 kg
        Books –   
        Other plastics –
        Printer Cartridges –

Total for 2022 – 509,929 kg
Total for 2021 – 564,357 kg
Difference – - 54,428

* Co-mingled is unsorted materials sent to Winnipeg for sorting


Comments – This is the second year we have recycled less than the year before since the recession of 2009. In 2016 we recycled 2% less than the year before. This year we recycled 10% less!
 
I recently spoke to Thompson Recycling and they recycled 10% less as well. 

There is something bigger happening here. Some possibilities: 

• - Covid made lots of things different.
• - People are consuming less.
• - Packagers are working to reduce the amount of packaging. 
• - There is less paper (fiber) in the waste stream with fewer newspapers, magazines, etc. 

Whatever it is, our total tonnage says something is changing. It will be interesting to see what 2023 brings.