Originally published Jan 18/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It happened again last week. Someone left a bunch of wood in the Recycling Centre’s dumpsters. The garbage truck will not take it so one of our staff spent over half an hour in the cold removing it.

This is the second time we have had to remove wood from the dumpster and take it to the landfill.

I suspect only one person is responsible for this.

It is the same when we are going through the bags dropped off at the Recycling Centre.  Many have very little or no garbage, but the bag we remember is the one that has diapers, food or as much garbage as  recyclables.

It is easy to be frustrated with the variety of non-recyclable items including building materials, appliances, furniture that we find on the dock.

This is the negative power of the actions of one or a few people.

I remind myself and my staff that the non-recyclable items we have to deal with make up a very small percentage of everything dropped off at the Centre. 

I am reminded of the positive power of one.

There is the power of one person in a home or business who decides to recycle and works to make it happen.

There is the power of one person encouraging their friends or family members to recycle.
There is the power of the individual leaders in the community who decided to make recycling happen in our community many years ago and those who continue to support it.

There is the power of individuals who volunteer their time as Board members. 

All these individual positives add up to a successful recycling program in our community. 

Originally published  Jan 11/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​The beginning of a new year is a time to review the accomplishments and challenges of the last 12 months for the recycling program.

Success is usually measured by how many metric tons (tonnes) of recyclables were processed.  A total of 442 tonnes was collected in 2016. This is 18 tonnes less than 2015 which doesn’t look very good.    

It depends on how you look at it.

It is the fifth highest total in 24 years of recycling in this community
. 
The amount of comingled materials which come mostly from homes is up by 11 tonnes. This is good news.

Twenty-two tonnes of electronics and 354 kilograms of batteries were recycled.

Several things were accomplished in 2016.

Dual recycling/garbage bins were installed on Main St. They idea began  in the summer 2014. It became a joint project with the City of Flin Flon and the Flin Flon Neighbourhood Revitalization Corporation and Recycle Everywhere. Flin Flon Credit Union and Reliance Services each contributed one. Installation problems delayed things but this spring everyone worked together to get it done.

These bins make the statement that this community recycles.

Denare Beach and Lake residents voted to contribute money to the recycling program in 2017. The first curbside pickup in Denare Beach was December 27. A recycling trailer will be placed at the Paradise Landfill this summer.

The Recycling Centre began collecting paint, fluorescent bulbs and thermostats for proper disposal.

The one day collection of hazardous waste at Centoba Park didn’t happen this year because a year round depot for hazardous waste will be installed at the Flin Flon landfill next spring.
​
2017 will be another good year. 

Originally published Jan 4/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The two weeks following Christmas are the busiest time at the Recycling Centre. Closing for one day is all we can manage before there is too much on the dock to be safe or responsible. 

I am thankful for a great team who are flexible with work hours so a couple of people could work the Mondays this year.

I am thankful that our community is embracing recycling. I haven’t had time to add up the numbers for the final tonnage but I know the recyclables we bale for sorting in Winnipeg is up more than ten metric tonnes or tonnes. This is mostly recyclables from homes.

Cardboard tonnage is down. This may be because fewer things in boxes were sold. It also indicates that more businesses need to recycle.

As I work with my team prepping recyclables for shipping, I am aware of a few messages we need to get out.

We need to advertise every year that wrapping paper is not recyclable.

The only kitchen appliance recycled through the electronics program is microwaves. We cannot recycle coffee makers, crock pots, blenders, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners or any other small appliance.

It is very helpful when Styrofoam and other foamy or plastic packing are removed from cardboard boxes.

We do not recycle window glass, ornaments, dishes etc. Only glass bottles and jars are recycled. Their lids should be removed before they are dropped off.  

It is great when recyclables are in a closed bag or box. We can handle it quicker and it doesn’t make a mess. The blue bins at the Centre are for loose materials.

Telephone calls asking for information are great.

Happy New Year to everyone.  

Originally published Dec 28/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Trivia Quiz

1. Containers sent for recycling should not be _________, _____________  or gooey.

2. Which of the following is not accepted at the Recycling Centre?   a) fluorescent bulbs  b) gift wrap      c) batteries  d) paint

3.  Is the amount of materials recycled in 2016 up or down?

4.  Recycling Centre employees work at which City of Flin Flon facility?

5. Recycling one _____________________ saves enough electricity to power a computer for five hours.

6. Which community voted to support recycling in a plebiscite in October?

7. The community recycling program has been operating for _____ years?  a) 15  b) 30  c) 24  d) 8

8. True or False – Computers and all the things that attach to them are recyclable.

9. What ‘twins’ appeared on Main St this summer?

10. True or False – Everything must be sorted before it can be sent for recycling.

Answers

1. Nothing should be drippy, Sticky or gooey when it is sent to the Recycling Centre.

2. b) It is impossible to sort recyclable from non-recyclable so no gift wrap is recycled.
 
3. Both. At the end of November total tonnage was down 15 tonnes but comingled materials were up 11 tonnes.  More homes are recycling. Less materials are coming from businesses.

4. Flin Flon Landfill. This contract subsidizes the recycling program.

5. Aluminium can

6. Denare Beach. Free pickup begins on December 27.

7. c) 24 years. A semi load of paper was shipped in November, 1992.

8. True – Computers and other electronics are shipped to Exner Ewaste in Elie Manitoba for recycling.

9. Dual garbage and recycling bins.

10. False. Very little sorting happens in Flin Flon. Most recyclables are sorted in Winnipeg. 

December total – 35,156 kg
        Newsprint – 1,073 kg
        Co-mingled* - 10,384 kg
        Office Paper – 2,720 kg
        Cardboard – 17,903 kg
        Glass – 2,492 kg
        Books -  584 kg
       

Total for 2016 – 442,272 kg
Total for 2015 – 460,584 kg
Difference - - 18,312 kg

The year end total is 442 metric tons or tonnes. This is 18 tonnes less than last year.
The good news is the comingled category is up over 11 tonnes. This indicates that more people are recycling in their homes.  

22 tonnes of electronics were recycled in 2016. Another load will be shipped early in the new year. 

354 kilograms of batteries were recycled.