Originally published May 3/17   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

This November it will be 25 years since the community recycling began in Flin Flon.

In the early days, funding to ship the first three loads came from community sources, but it was evident the program needed support from other sources if it was to survive and grow. 

Graham Craig was the mayor in 1994 when we first approached the City of Flin Flon for money for recycling as it is part of waste management.  I remember meeting with Mr. Craig several times about it.

He was very encouraging. I knew he was promoting recycling at City Council.

In 1996, the City of Flin Flon gave recycling a $65,000.00 donation. That decision of City Council was the reason recycling moved forward instead of struggling along and probably dying.

Graham’s contribution was more than just as mayor. Graham and his wife Grace volunteered as sorters for several years in the early 2000’s .

He was on the Board of the Coop when they made a donation to recycling.

Even today when our paths cross he inquiries about recycling and is very encouraging.
I remember asking Graham to make a few comments at the AGM for the tenth year of recycling. 

His comments have stayed with me.  He said “As concern about environmental issues grows, recycling gives people something they can do every day to make things better.”

It is exciting to see more households recycling and making a difference. Graham’s contributions are a huge part of the current success of recycling in our community.

 This recognition is well deserved and long overdue.
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Thank you  Graham Craig. 

April total – 37,659 kg
       
        Co-mingled* - 12,787 kg
        Office Paper – 3,255 kg
        Cardboard – 17,086 kg
        Glass – 3,833 kg
        Books -  698 kg
       

Total for 2017 – 140,760 kg
Total for 2016 – 135,175 kg
Difference – 5,585 kg


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


Comments – The amount of newspaper has dropped off significantly since the Winnipeg Free Press no longer comes to the community and The Reminder is publishing weekly. The value of newsprint is minimal so we made the decision this month to stop separating it from the co-mingled materials.

Co-mingled materials  which represent recycling from households continues to go up.
we have baled seven tonnes (metric tons) more than this time last year. 

Originally published Apr 26/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Did you know that a single litre of used motor oil will contaminate a million litres of ground water?

Motor oil picks up nasty things like lead, cadmium, arsenic, dioxins, benzene and polycyclic aromatics in engines. If it is dumped on the ground or in drains, it can harm people, plants, animals, fish and other water creatures.

It sits on the surface of water, preventing sunlight and oxygen from getting into the water, affecting fish and water plants. It can kill fish, frogs and other animals that breathe from the water surface.

Burning used oil at low temperatures puts things in the air that can harm human health.  
Antifreeze (new or used) is harmful to people, animals and plants. Recycled antifreeze jugs should not be used for food containers so need to be kept separate from regular recycling.

In Manitoba, motor oil producers began to reclaim and reuse or recycle used motor oil, filters and containers in 1999. The program has been expanded to collect antifreeze and its containers

There are collection sites at the Flin Flon and Creighton Landfills. A business is licensed to collect the used motor oil, containers and filters from these sites and from local businesses.

Used oil can be recycled at 2 plants in Ontario and BC. In our part of the country it is used in high temperature oil furnaces certified and registered to burn used motor oil.
Antifreeze is recycled for reuse.

Oil and antifreeze containers are made into parking lot curbs and fence posts.  Oil filters are squished to remove the oil and recycled into rebar for cement construction.
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Please be responsible. Tipping fees are not charged for these products. 


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Originally published Apr 19/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.


April 22 is Earth Day. It is a day set aside to bring attention to importance of protecting the Earth so it can support life.

The first one was in the United States in 1970. It was organized by a two US senators, one a Republican, the other a Democrat.  People from all walks of life and political parties participated.

It became recognized around the world in 1990. The focus has changed over the years. Recycling was important in the 1990’s. Climate change is the main concern since the early 2000’s.

Earth Day is on Saturday this year. The Recycling Centre is celebrating by inviting everyone to an open house from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  The Centre is located at 9 Timber Lane, in the Eecol Electric building.

You will be able to see how all the different materials are processed and stored for shipping. A bale will be made at 1:30 and 3:00.

The Recycling Centre is really a Materials Recovery Facility or a MRF. Nothing is recycled into new things here.  It currently collects nine different categories of materials. 

Household recyclables, corrugated cardboard and office paper are compressed into large bales and shipped to Winnipeg. From there, these recyclables are sent to mills in the United States or Eastern Canada where they are made into new products.  

Each year, the company we ship to in Winnipeg sends information about the difference our recycling made the previous year.

In 2016, recycling from our communities saved 4,310 trees, 7,040,980 litres of water and 2,666,590 KWH of energy. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 1,188 metric tons and 1,705 cubic yards of garbage was kept out of local landfills.
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Recycling makes a difference.