Originally published July 3/19 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop

The end of school has arrived. It is an exciting time for children. It also means there are lots of school things to clean up and put away.  There is a mountain of recycling from the schools at the Recycling Centre this week.

When cleaning up after school remember that reusing is more important for the environment than recycling.  The most environmentally friendly thing families can do is save binders, pens, pencils, unused paper, etc. and reuse them next year. 
 
We are always amazed by how many reusable items come to us. We will be giving them away at the Recycled School Supplies event at the end of August.

So what can be recycled?

Loose leaf paper, white or coloured office paper (the paper used in photocopiers for worksheets etc.)  notebooks (removing the covers is helpful), paper tang folders, file folders, paper dividers, books, beverage containers and boxes are recyclable. Poster board is recyclable if it doesn’t have other things stuck to it.

Not recyclable items include: 3 ring binders, construction paper, laminated paper, art projects with different kinds of collage materials and anything plastic like report covers, tang folders, page protectors. Pencils, markers and other writing things, erasers, geometry sets, pencil cases, and glue sticks are not recyclable.

Any of these items that are not needed and still usable can be dropped off at the Recycling Centre for the giveaway.

Remember, recycling one metric ton (tonne) of paper save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3.5 cubic metres of landfill space.

School children often encourage families to recycle. Recycling goes a long way to making sure we leave a good world for our children.

Originally published June 26/19 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop

Banning single use plastic bags in North America began with Leaf Rapids, Manitoba in 2007. Many other places worldwide have followed including Thompson in 2010 and The Pas in 2016.

The concern has grown to include more single use plastics than just shopping bags.  Pictures of islands of plastic in the oceans and wild life tangled in plastic things have created support for a ban of single use plastics.  A recent Dalhousie University study indicated that 97% of Canadians are quite concerned.

There many reasons why single use plastics are used. They make sure food is safe and lasts longer. They are convenient for take-out. They also protect things and create packages for several pieces of the same thing.  

Another big reason plastic is used is because it is cheaper to use and lighter to ship.
And that is the rub. The same University of Dalhousie study indicated that people are only willing to pay a small amount to reduce single use plastics.

The Canadian government says it plans to ban some single use plastics beginning in 2021.

Why not now?

Because it is complicated.  Time is needed evaluate which items would have the biggest impact and to give industry time to find alternatives.

Some plastics are recyclable although there is significantly more recyclable plastic than current Canadian recycling mills can process.
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A call for Plastic Free July started in Australia. Other places including the Green Action Centre in Winnipeg have promoted the idea.   Their challenge to us is to evaluate what kind of single-use plastics are in our lives, how we can move away from them and commit to making changes. Follow this link for more information. https://greenactioncentre.ca/module/plastic-free-july-at-green-action-centre/

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

A trailer of electronic waste for recycling was shipped May 8. The goal is to ship at least 10 metric tons or tonnes.  This load did not disappoint at 10.4 tonnes.

Electronics recycling is subsidized by the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA). It is the Producer Responsible Organization (PRO) for the electronics industry that is required by the government to subsidize the recycling of their products sold in Manitoba.

Recyclable items include computers and attachments, televisions, video recorders, satellite boxes, home and auto sound systems, floor standing printers, telephones and personal audio or video items. Microwaves are the only kitchen appliance that is accepted.

Items can be left at the Centre any time. They should be dropped when the Centre is open if security is an issue as they are locked up at closing time. 

The items are stacked on pallets and wrapped for shipping. EPRA provides large bags for small items like cords, phones, keyboards and computer mice.

When we have 25 pallets the EPRA arranges for a semi –trailer to pick them up. They pay the shipping.

We are paid for the work of collecting items, preparing them for shipping and loading by the EPRA based on the weight of the load.  The amount paid  is $20.00 higher per tonne if the load is over 10 tonnes. We receive between $1,800.00 and $2,200.00 per load.

This program is funded by Environmental Handling fees paid when new items are purchased. 

The EPRA program requires that electronics recycling protects the environment and the health and safety of the workers. Local items are shipped to Exner  Ewaste in Elie, Mb.

More information is available at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca  or www.flinflonrecycling.org.

June total – 40,893 kg
       
        Aluminum – 651 kg
        Commingled* - 10,962 kg
        Office Paper – 2,778 kg
        Cardboard – 22,786 kg
        Glass – 3,093 kg
        Books –  623 kg
        Other plastics –

Total for 2019 –  253,648 kg
Total for 2018 – 258,402 kg
Difference – -4,754 kg
 
Batteries – 105 kg

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


Comments – After a record month in May, June's totals were significantly less than last year putting us behind last year's totals by almost 5 tonnes. Part of this may be that we were behind with baling and weights. The Centre was full of recyclables that needed to be baled so those weights don't show up. Hopefully this trend will reverse in July.