Originally published Feb 17/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Sometimes it seems that recycling is too complicated.

It’s not. Here are the basics.

1.   If it’s on the list it’s recyclable. If not, it belongs in the garbage. A list is available on our website www.flinflonrecycling.org.  There are pictures on our facebook page Flin Flon Recycling. If you are not sure, please call the Recycling Centre at 204 687 6169 or email [email protected]. 

2. It is easy.  Recyclables go in one recycling bin, garbage goes in the other. No sorting is required. 
     The only exceptions are: shredded paper (only office paper) goes in a separate bag (even a shopping bag tied shut is fine) and household batteries should be in a separate sealed bag or container so we can find them.
 
3.  Recyclables can be picked up at your home in Creighton and Flin Flon. 
    Creighton has free pickup Thursday or Friday morning. Call the Town office to find out your day.
     Wednesday is Red bag curbside pickup in Flin Flon. One red bag must be purchased for $3.50 to pay for the service. Two more bags or boxes will be picked up. A list of the streets served is on the website. If your street isn’t on the list, call the Centre at 204 687 6169 and it will be added.
      Large cardboard boxes should be flattened and placed with bags. They do not need to be bagged.
 
4.   Recyclables can be dropped off at the Centre at 9 Timber Lane on the left side of the Eecol Building or the green trailer parked in the lot between Canadian Tire and Walmart.Recycling saves energy, resources and landfill space and costs.

The little extra effort is worth it. 

Originally published  Feb. 10/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

‘Everything we have comes from the Earth’.  I can’t remember where I read this statement but that fact has stayed with me.

Something was taken from the Earth to make everything we have from televisions to toilet paper, from socks to SUV’s. This is a finite planet we are living on. We need to make some changes, so there is something left for our grandchildren.

The Three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, are the key to making change. They are listed in the order of importance.

First, we need to reduce how much we are taking from the earth. Making purchases with less packaging is a good place to start. The real question is ‘do we really need so much stuff?’ How much do we buy that we don’t need or use? How much do we throw away that is still in good condition and usable, but we are tired of or we find something ‘better’?

Repairing what you have instead of buying a new one is another way to reduce the amount of the earth’s resources we use.  

Reuse what you have. Use margarine containers for supper leftovers. Use reusable bags for shopping. Use dishes instead of paper plates, or a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. Someone else can reuse what you are finished with through garage sales, ‘Trader’s Post’, or giving things away to someone who needs it.

You only can only reuse so many margarine containers, etc. Instead of filling up the landfill, recycle as much as you can. Recycling uses less energy and resources so we take less from the earth.

If you are not recycling, you are throwing it all away.  

Originally published Feb 3/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

1. Who owns the Recycling Centre?
2. Who owns the green trailer for recycling drop offs parked between Canadian Tire and Walmart?
3. Which material makes up the largest portion of bales shipped for recycling?
4. What recycling program provides free bins for beverage container recycling in public spaces?
5. How many tonnes (metric tons) did the Recycling Centre process in 2016? 
6. What is a MRF?
7. Which of the following is not collected for recycling: a) Computers and televisions, b)shredded paper, c) Styrofoam and plastic bags,  d) household batteries
8. What year did the Recycling Centre began shipping materials to Winnipeg for sorting.
9. Who shares a building with the Recycling Centre in Timber Lane?
10. What items are recycled from local landfills?

 
Answers

1. No one. It is owned by the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc., a non-profit corporation.  
2. The City of Flin Flon purchased the trailer in 2014.
3. Corrugated cardboard is 48% of the materials processed for recycling.
4.  Recycle Everywhere. The two cent environment levy on beverage containers funds this program and provides some subsidy for local recycling costs.
5. 460 tonnes.
6. Materials Recovery Facility. The Recycling Centre is a MRF as it collects the materials and sends them elsewhere to be made into something new.
7. C) Styrofoam and plastic bags as there are no place to send them for recycling.
8. 2013. The decision to stop sorting locally was made because it is less expensive than hiring more people and buying equipment.
9. Eecol Electric leases half of the building owned by the Recycling Centre.
10. Used oil, metal, car batteries, tires (Flin Flon Landfill only).

                            January total – 34,434 kg
                                   Newsprint – 2,388 kg
                                   Co-mingled* - 9,727 kg
                                   Office Paper – 2,533 kg
                                   Cardboard – 15,965 kg
                                   Glass – 3,237 kg
                                   Books - 584 kg
       

                            Total for 2016 – 34,434 kg
                            Total for 2015 – 33,409 kg

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

Originally published  Jan. 27/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Not enough space or time to sort is often the reason (excuse) given for not recycling.

In reality, sorting was never a requirement, although it was helpful. Now it is definitely not needed as materials are not sorted at the Recycling Centre.

Since October 2013, recyclables are removed from the bags and boxes they arrive in. Glass, beer cans/bottles and big garbage is removed. The rest is baled and sent to Winnipeg where it is sorted on a sort line for $40.00/metric ton.

The reason for this change was mainly about money. To continue sorting 12 different products as volumes increased would have required at least one more staff person and money to buy sorting equipment. Finding the money for these things was nearly impossible. The prices for most of the products was so low, it didn’t even pay for shipping.

​Many other communities our size, like Thompson and The Pas were shipping ‘comingled’ materials to Winnipeg for sorting. It made financial sense.

The Centre staff was reduced by 1.5 positions.  The money saved on wages pays for about 825 tonnes of sorting in Winnipeg, more than this community recycles in a year.

Corrugated cardboard doesn’t require sorting, so it is still baled separately and sold.
Several good things have resulted. The recyclables are baled and shipped quickly so they do not pile up. There is more space as it is not necessary to store enough of 12 different products to make a bale.

The financial situation is less difficult. Wages have been increased.

It is easy to recycling. It only requires one bin.  If it’s on the list, recycle it.

Check the website at www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

Note - household batteries (including button batteries) and shredded paper should be in separate bags and can be placed inside the big bag of recyclables.