Originally published Feb 18, 2015  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Flin Flon landfill has a compound for fridges, freezers, and air conditioners. It was built in 2007 for an Environment Council project to protect the ozone layer by providing for the removal of ozone depleting substances (OSDs) at the landfill. The program continues for a small feel

What is the concern about ozone?

At ground level it is nasty air pollution that leads to health problems.

Fifteen kilometers up in the atmosphere it is the sun screen for the earth, filtering out harmful UV radiation from the sun.

The chemicals used for refrigeration called CFCs and HCFC’s seriously destroy the ozone layer. Sunshine releases the chlorine, which is the C in the names. One atom of chlorine destroys thousands of ozone atoms in the atmosphere.  The ODS in the atmosphere today will damage ozone for another 80 years.

Life on earth needs the ozone protection from the sun’s radiation.

Less ozone causes more skin cancer, eye problems, premature aging for people and animals. It damages crops like wheat, rice and corn which are staples in people’s diets. It destroys plankton which is the food for the food we get from the oceans.

In 1987 most countries signed the Montreal Protocol which strictly regulates ODS. Anyone who works with it must be licensed.  The amounts are documented carefully and tracked. CFC’s are being phased ouit.

One regulation requires that all appliances must have the refrigerant removed by a certified technician before going to landfill.

Our project provides the removal service at the landfill for a fee of $25.00 which can be paid at Flin Flon City Hall or the landfill gate.

The fridge goes to the metal pile for recycling. 

Originally published Feb. 11, 2015  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre is frequently asked why we don’t pay for beverage containers brought in for recycling like in Saskatchewan.

The simple answer is because no deposit was paid when the beverage was purchased so it can’t be returned.

On one occasion when I explained this, the person was surprised he paid a deposit when buying beverages in Saskatchewan. I’m not sure where he thought the money came from.

In Saskatchewan 16 cents is added to the cost of a pop or similar beverage. Ten cents is a deposit which is returned if the container is taken to a Sarcan depot. Six cents is a levy used to pay for the program.

In Manitoba and local Saskatchewan stores, a two cent levy is charged. It subsidizes recycling costs and provides free recycling bins for public places.

I sometimes question how effective the deposit system is. In Manitoba, beer containers can be returned to vendors for a deposit.

Many people bring their beer bottles and cans to the Recycling Centre. Some may be making a donation, but most are just not interested in getting their deposit back.  Our staff also sees many beer containers in the Flin Flon landfill.

The Centre returned more than 65,000 beer containers last year. 

It is difficult to say which system is better.  Recycling rates for beverage containers are somewhat higher in Saskatchewan. Manitoba’s system is less expensive for people buying beverages.

One reality is some people take local containers to Sarcan. This cheats our recycling program and theirs. Sarcan pays deposits it did not receive when the beverage was purchased.

It lowers our recycling tonnage and reduces our recycling subsidy.

And it is illegal. 

Note:  Sometimes 285 words is not enough to say it all!
 Local residents can return bottles from liquor purchased at the Liquor Store in Creighton to Sarcan as they do pay a deposit. They should keep their receipt to showing the deposit has been paid.

Originally published Feb 4, 2015  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It is important in this business of recycling that people have access to information about what is recyclable and how to send recyclables on to a second life.

 In the age of computers, there are a few more tools available.

Getting the word out can be very expensive. The Recycling Centre uses several that fit within its budget limitations. 

A brochure with information is the oldest method.  These will be available at the grocery stores in the next week.

Signs have been used for a very long time. Recycling information is on the stand out sign by the Armouries on Third Ave.

The web makes information available in the comfort of home or on a mobile device almost anywhere.  The Recycling Centre recently updated its website www.flinflonrecycling.org. It also has a facebook page called Flin Flon Recycling. There are pictures on this page of the materials that are recyclable.

A simple phone call to 204 687 6169 will also provide any information that is needed.

The Recycling Centre will have a booth again this year at the Leisure Show.

This column is another source of information about recycling.

The local recycling program benefits from the billboards and radio and television advertising of the industry organizations that fund recycling. Remember the airplane made of aluminum cans?

The Multi Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) has the Simply Recycle program. The Canadian Beverage Containers Recycling Association (CBCRA) has the Recycle Everywhere program which also provides free beverage container recycling bins for public places.

The Recycling Centre appreciates ideas and feedback. Please call the Centre at 204 687 6169, comment on the blog on the website or the facebook page or email us at recycled@mymts.net. 

Originally published  Jan 28, 2015  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Last week it was OCC. This week’s acronym is ICI. It refers to Industrial, Commercial and Institutional recycling. In other words, it is recycling in work places.

Many workplaces in our community recycle. The Recycling Centre picks up from 42 of them.  There are industrial places like HudBay, commercial enterprises like grocery stores and restaurants, and institutions like schools and health care facilities.

Cardboard is the main material recycled followed by office paper and beverage containers.  Some outlets have lots of newspapers and fliers.

The number of pickups varies. Some have pickups several times a week while others are once a month or when needed. There is a fee for this service.

Others businesses bring their recyclables to the Centre.

It is great to have so many workplaces recycling.

Here are some tips for recycling at work:

-          Flatten cardboard boxes and put them in one box so less space is required and it is easier to carry.

-          Shredded office paper can be recycled. It should be in a separate bag. Remove all newsprint, plastic covers, file folders and other things before shredding.

-          Provide a recycling container at desks as most waste at desks is recyclable paper.

-          Coffee cups, tissues, paper towels, plastic wrapping, food items, candy and food wrappers, are not recyclable and belong in the garbage.

-          Many posters and other display materials are recyclable. If it can be torn it is recyclable.

-          Laminated items and mixed materials like padded envelopes, and coffee cans made of tin and cardboard are not recyclable.

-          Several sizes of bins for beverage containers are available free for business from Recycle Everywhere.

For more information, call 204 687 6169.

January total - 33,409 kg
        Newsprint - 2,496 kg
        Co-mingled* - 10,208 kg
        Office Paper - 2,597 kg
        Cardboard - 15,929 kg
        Glass - 1,720 kg
        Books -  459 kg

Total for 2015 - 33,409 kg
Total for 2014 at the end of January - 33,770 kg

Batteries - 31 kg shipped in January/15

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

Comments - The floor was cleared  by the end of January for the first time since early December . This month always includes the large amount of recycling that comes in over Christmas as it takes a while to process it.