Written for Dec 27/17. Originally published Jan 3/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​December is a time when we look back at the year that is ending.

Several things changed in the programs managed by the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc.

Two things that started in 2016 were completed.

Denare Beach began curbside recycling pickup after the community voted in favour of the service in October municipal election.

The Household Hazardous Waste depot opened at the Flin Flon landfill. We worked closely with the City for about a year to make this happen. Two sea containers were modified and installed to collect the materials for shipping. It opened in September.

Earth Day which is April 22 each year was on a Saturday. The Recycling Centre held an open house which several people took advantage of. We also had two school classes, the Girl Guides and the Summer in the Parks children tour the Centre.

In May we organized the ‘Company’s Coming’ cleanup campaign.

We were busy during homecoming collecting beverage containers.

We began regular radio advertising to promote the red bag curbside program in Flin Flon.
The website www.flinflonrecycling.org was updated.

In November we celebrated twenty-five years of recycling in our community with cake at the Chamber of Commerce regular meeting November 14.

The biggest change will continue into 2018. We have purchased a second baler to increase efficiency. After three days this past week, it is in place in the Centre. It needs electricity and some set up which will happen next year.

The only bad news is the price of corrugated cardboard and office paper fell in October since China has decided not to take recyclables.

Tonnage is ahead of last year by twenty-three tonnes.
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It has been a good year. 

Originally published Dec 20/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

By the time this is published there will something new in the Recycling Centre. It will bring big changes to how recyclables are processed at the Centre.

Nothing will change for people bringing recyclables.  

We are finally moving our new baler that has been sitting in the parking lot since the beginning of November into the building.

The challenge of unloading it was just the beginning.

The machine weighs just over 3,600 kilograms or 8,000 pounds. It is sitting on its side which is a good thing because it will fit through the door.

Lifting it up on the dock and moving it in will be the first challenge. A zoom boom will be doing the work as it must be picked up from the top.

The next biggest challenge will be setting it upright. A gantry will be used to accomplish this task.

Then the baler will be moved into its designated spot, the mast, raised up into the ceiling and the conveyor, attached. We may have to move some water pipes.

Finally the electricity will be hooked up.

This is the biggest thing that has happened in the recycling program for a very long time.

The second baler will make things more efficient. The conveyor will feed co-mingled materials into the baler removing at least one step from the process.

Two bales can be made at the same time and if the twenty year old baler goes down materials can still be baled in the new one.  This is important as there is not much space for storage.
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It will change where and how things move but the advantages will make it worth it.
Thank you to Frontier Industries for doing the work. 

Originally published Dec 13/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Note- This column is 'recycled' every Christmas with just a few changes. 

The holiday season is a busy time at the Recycling Centre. Festivities and gift giving leaves lots of waste. Much of it can be recycled. Some things cannot.

The usual things are recyclable: beverage containers, cardboard, boxboard, all plastic containers with the recycling symbol except #6 (PS), Christmas cards, tin cans, batteries, newspapers and fliers, catalogues, magazines and office paper.  

Food and drink containers should not be drippy, sticky or gooey.

Things that belong in the garbage are: gift wrap, ribbons, envelopes with foil or plastic liners, food containers made of cardboard and metal, all Styrofoam,  plastic bags and wrap, plastic packaging with no number,  disposable plates , utensils and coffee cups.

Check plastic cups as many are #1 or #5 which can be recycled.

We cannot recycle Christmas decorations including Christmas lights.

Check the website www.flinflonrecycling.org or call 204 687 6169 for more information.

Reduce waste by using/ reusing gift bags and enjoying each other’s company while washing dishes instead of using disposable ones. 

Gifts often replace something that is still usable. Take these items to a second hand store or advertise them on Trader’s Post, Kijiji, or similar service.  Or give it away.

Electronics such as computers and their parts, sound systems, televisions, gaming systems, telephones and microwaves can be recycled. Check the list at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca.

Consider giving something that makes the world a better place and creates very little waste. Many charities have special projects you can contribute to in honour of someone on your list.

This season as always, remember that everything we have comes from the earth. As you treat each other to Christmas cheer and kindness, remember to also be kind to Mother Earth. 

Originally published Dec 6/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre staff are great.

This morning one of them brought me a box to use with school kids. There were four pictures showing how the product was made from recycled cardboard. I will need to enlarge it to show a group of children.

It reminds me of the box I found from a case of paper towels.  There was a ‘Green Roll Certified’ stamp and an ‘Eco-logo’ stamp and another one indicating these were environmentally friendly towels. The box was made of 100% recycled cardboard.

What got my attention was the ‘Cascades’ company logo.  We ship our materials to this company. Our office paper or ‘Printers Mix’ (the industry name for this grade of paper) is made into paper towels and similar things.

This box brought materials we recycled back for use in our community. Then the box was recycled again.

The Mobius loop is complete.

Recycled materials have become quite established in the process of making many things.

The floor covering in my office was recently replaced with vinyl plank that was 50% recycled materials.

Scrap metal and recycled plastic are part of every new car.

Plastic from pop bottles (number one plastic) is used in mattresses, clothing and carpet. An interesting bit of trivia is that the price paid for recycled #1 plastic has fallen in the past few years as fewer people use  carpet in their homes.

I wish more office paper became new office paper instead of disposable things like paper towels. It does in the US where a percentage of recycled content is required by law.
Many different things make recycling happen.
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Check the pictures on the Flin Flon Recycling Facebook page. 

      December total – 33,378 kg
       
        Co-mingled* - 11,100 kg
        Office Paper – 3,254 kg
        Cardboard – 16,376 kg
        Glass – 2,648 kg
      

Total for 2017 – 463,516 kg
Total for 2016 – 442,272 kg
Difference – +21,244 kg

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


Comments – There were several more tonnes of recyclables in the building at the end of the month that had not been baled and weighed. We lost 3 days before Christmas installing the new baler. The Christmas mountain seemed much bigger this year. This will be reflected in January 2018 numbers. 

The total for the year is the third highest in our history. I expected it to be higher but the slow down for the baler affected the final number.