Originally published June 14/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
Several recycling magazines wait on my desk for me to find time to read them.  I found some time recently when I had to wait for a family member.

One article described the beginning of a major change in the assumptions about economic growth. Traditional thinking believes economic growth happens when more people use more stuff and energy – a straight line.

It reminded me of a video called ‘The Story of Stuff’ which also describes our thinking about stuff as a line – take resources from the earth, make something, sell that something, use it and throw it away. It goes on to show that the story is really much more complex.

Google it. The twenty minutes is worth it.

The magazine article described the new circular economy that finds ways to loop used stuff back into usefulness by repair or making something new.

Repairs are encouraged by making manuals easy to find. Companies sell a process that their machines do rather than selling the machine.  The company replaces used machines, refurbishes them and sends out to do the work again.

Recycling is a great example of looping. Instead of sending stuff to landfills mills recycle it into new stuff. Plastic becomes car parts and carpets. Aluminum cans become new aluminum cans or the body of an airplane. Cardboard becomes new cardboard.

Some other examples are using old cement for aggregate in new cement and recycling old drywall  into new drywall.

Self-serve car rental is making it easier to get around without buying a car.
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Thinking in circles is important as everything we have comes from the earth. We can’t just keep throwing it away.  

Originally published June 7/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
I was on the dock the other day when someone dropped off recycling. They had a nice gift box with padding inside and wondered if it was recyclable. The answer was no because it was a mix of different materials.

I love questions.  When people ask about what is recyclable and what isn’t it means we have less garbage coming to the Recycling Centre.

Here are answers to some of the common questions.

• Items with mixed materials like padded envelopes with plastic, containers that are metal and cardboard, or special boxes with padding, plastic or Styrofoam are not recyclable. 
• Plastic bags, liners, wrappers and other ‘film’ plastic and Styrofoam are not recyclable.
• We cannot recycle aluminium foil pans.
• We cannot recycle coffee cups, paper towels, disposable plates and cutlery.
• Old dishes, mirrors, and window glass cannot be recycled, only glass bottles and jars.
• We cannot recycle old furniture, toys, clothes, window blinds and kitchen appliances with the exception of microwaves.

One person said they were unsure if the item was recyclable so they brought it just in case it was.

I understand that people want to recycle as much as possible. However, please check it out first as non-recyclable items are garbage. The less we have to deal with the better.

There are several ways to find out if an item is recyclable. Check the list on the website www.flinflonrecycling.org or the pictures on the Flin Flon Recycling Facebook page. Call us at 204 687 6169. Leave a message if no one answers.  A paper list is also available at the Centre.
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Remember: If it is on the list, recycle it. If it’s not, it’s garbage. 

May total – 42,802 kg
       
        Co-mingled* - 14,196 kg
        Office Paper – 2,970 kg
        Cardboard – 21,817 kg
        Glass – 3,103 kg
        Books -  716 kg
       

Total for 2017 – 183,562 kg
Total for 2016 – 174,605 kg
Difference – 8,957 kg

Batteries - 52 kg.

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

Originally published May 31/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
There will be a place to take left over hazardous waste beginning in June. (Update - the opening is delayed as permits are required. Watch for news about its opening).

The City of Flin Flon was successful in getting funds for a permanent  hazardous waste depot at the Flin Flon Landfill. Two sea cans were purchased and modified in Winnipeg to create the depot. They have been set up at the landfill. Staff will be trained June 12.

The official opening will be announced in the local media, on the Flin Flon Recycling facebook page and our website:  www. flinflonrecycling.org.

These materials will not take up space in the landfill so no tipping fees will be charged if the only thing coming to the landfill is hazardous waste.

This is a great improvement for waste management in our community. Previously, hazardous materials were collected one afternoon in September at Centoba Park.  Home Hardware collects paint cans and the Recycling Centre collects paint cans and fluorescent bulbs.

What is hazardous waste? It is anything that has the danger symbols.  The symbols show a skull and cross bones (poisonous), flame (flammable), boney hand (corrosive) inside a stop sign or triangle shape.   

Common items include aerosol cans, paints, gasoline, flammable liquids, pesticides, fertilizers, cleaners and degreasers, glues, etc.

These items should definitely not go to the landfill or worse yet be dumped on the ground or down the drain. They are harmful. That is why they have those scary pictures.

Now there will be a safe way to take care of them any time.

Watch for promotional materials with information.  

The Recycling Centre will continue to collect fluorescent bulbs and paint cans for now.
Call the Recycling Centre at (204) 687-6169 if you have any questions. 

​Originally published May 26/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
If your house is like mine, it is probably looks the best when I have invited guests.

The Homecoming planned for Trout Festival will bring lots of visitors to our town. It is time to clean our ‘house’.

The Recycling Centre is sponsoring the community litter clean up again this year. We are a little late getting started and we need your help.  

From now until June 12 we are encouraging residents to clean up litter in public areas in our community.  We are also organizing special cleanup events  for the Creighton Freeway and Perimeter.

Groups, families or individuals can let the Recycling Centre know the area they are cleaning up by calling (204) 687-6169.  Bags are available if needed.

There are prizes so we need the names and phone numbers of everyone who helped.  There are two $100.00 gift certificates from the Coop so far. There will be more.
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It would be great to have a picture for our Facebook page or website. You can send the names, phone numbers and pictures to recycled@mymts.net or call the Recycling Centre.

The Creighton Freeway cleanup will be Tuesday evening May 30. The cleanup of the Perimeter will be Wednesday evening May 31. 

Volunteers can meet at 6:30 on the Phantom Lake Road Tuesday and in the parking lot behind the Community Hall on Wednesday. Bring gloves and a high viz vest if you have one.  Bags will be supplied.

If anyone wants to help but is not able to at these times, please call the Recycling Centre as we probably won’t get it all done in one evening.
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Watch for updates on our Facebook page Flin Flon Recycling, or the web at www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

Originally published May 19/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
Research shows the best way encourage recycling is to make it easy.  Picking it up from homes increases rates significantly.

In May, 2003, the Recycling Centre began curbside pickup. People using the service were asked to pay $30.00/year. Payment was on the honour system. If recycling was on the curb it was picked up.

In 2006, seventy five households paid the fee. Many more were using the service.

Financial realities ended curbside recycling in June, 2007. Prices for recyclable materials fell and municipal support had not increased.   The curbside program cost much more than the fees brought in.

Tonnage dropped from 500 tonnes in 2007 to 398 tonnes in 2008 and even lower the next year.

In 2009 a public meeting on the future of recycling showed the community wanted recycling to continue. The Recycling Centre developed a new financial plan so it could survive.

Curbside pickups were reintroduced in 2010 to increase recycling rates.

The Centre needed a fee to cover the cost. The easiest way to know who had paid was to sell red bags. If there was a red bag on the curb with recyclables staff knew the fee had been paid. Two more bags/boxes and cardboard would also be picked up.
Pickups every other week.

Usage was falling. Many commented it was hard to remember which week was recycling week.

The schedule changed to weekly pickups in March 2015 to make it easier. In September, the route was shortened to include just the streets where people were using the program.

​Newcomers are always welcome. The list of streets is on the website at www.flinflonrecycling.org. New streets can be added by calling the Recycling Centre at 204 687 6169.

Originally published May 10/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 
The Board of Directors of the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc. includes a representative from the Town of Creighton and the City of Flin Flon as they contribute 27% of revenue. 

In 2004, LaVerne became the representative from Creighton.
 
This was the time when things were evolving. We moved into the new building. Curbside and business pickup services began.  Prices for materials were good.

LaVerne quickly understood the ins and outs of the recycling program and recognized its value.

Municipal support was not very strong. Grants remained the same from 2000 until 2007. When the sale prices for materials fell drastically in 2008, a lack of funds threatened to end the community recycling program.

LaVerne resigned as the Creighton Council representative to protest the poor support and to let another member of Council see the value and struggles recycling.

Thankfully he stayed on as a community board member.  His contributions at meetings and his promotion of recycling in the community have been very valuable.  He has served as chairperson since May 2014.

LaVerne needs to be busy and doesn’t waste time when something needs to be done. He volunteers in many ways every week during the summer from fixing to bagging and baling.

One day in 2014 I commented that bins on wheels to move materials around would make things so much easier. By the end of the week LaVerne had built three bins. There were four more by the end of summer. Now we have 10. These bins have increased the efficient use of space and time incredibly.

LaVerne keeps things cleaned up and organized. He is a very positive encouraging person to have around.
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Thank you LaVerne.