Originally published Aug 19, 2015   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Every month we calculate the number of metric tons (tonnes) recycled. At the end of July we are 29 tonnes ahead of July 2014.

That is awesome.

A conversation reminded me how many people contribute this success.

The person I was talking to is an avid recycler who encourages others to recycle. There are many members of our community who promote recycling.

Politicians are part of it.

The provincial government has required industry to subsidize recycling costs. These subsidies provided 14% of the revenue last year.

City and town Councillor’s decisions to support recycling are very important. In 1996 the decision of Flin Flon City Council to give a large one time grant made it possible for recycling in our community to survive and grow.

Ongoing financial support from the City of Flin Flon and Town of Creighton Councils provided 28% of last year’s revenue.

Many ordinary people also make it happen as politicians are usually moved by public opinion.

Many have made financial donations to the Recycling Program.

Individuals contribute as Board members volunteering their time in many ways. They oversee operations, contribute ideas and make decisions at meetings. They offer their skills in other ways from maintaining equipment, painting coffee rooms, and organizing fundraisers. 

The employees make recycling successful everyday by working hard and suggesting ways to make things work better.

If ordinary people did not make recycling a habit in their homes, all this work would be pointless.  Fortunately, people want to do their part to help the environment by recycling.

If you are not recycling, join the crowd.  For more information go to www.flinflonrecycling.org,  Flin Flon Recycling on Facebook or call 204 687 6169.

Originally published Aug 12/15 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre is operated by the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc., a non-profit organization. All of the money it receives stays in the organization to operate the Recycling Centre.

Funding comes from a variety of places.

 In 2014, the money received from selling recyclables was only 6% of revenue. More than a third of that came from returning empty beer containers.

Business and Curbside pickup fees were 16% of revenue. This money covers  the cost of providing these services.

Other sources of revenue were building rental (18%), recycling subsidy program (14%), Flin Flon Landfill contract after costs (13%) and donations, fundraising and miscellaneous (2%).

Recycling support grants from the City of Flin Flon and the Town of Creighton were the largest percentage of revenue at 27%. These grants are calculated at $11.40 per person.

There is currently no way for people living in Denare Beach or the surrounding lake areas to financially support the costs of recycling.

In 2013 and 2014, the Recycling Centre asked people living in these areas to pay their share individually to the Recycling Centre. Individuals contributed more than $750.00 in 2014 which was greatly appreciated.

It is considerably less than what would be received if everyone paid the same $11.40 per person that Flin Flon and Creighton pay.

The Recycling Centre is continuing to talk with Denare Beach Village Council, Manitoba Conservation and the Cottagers Association to resolve this issue.

In the meantime, the Recycling Centre is once again, asking residents of Denare Beach and those living at the lakes to contribute directly to the Centre to help with the costs of recycling.

For more information please call 204 687 6169.

July total – 47,574 kg
        Newsprint - 2,322 kg
        Co-mingled* - 10,292 kg
        Office Paper – 4,669 kg
        Cardboard – 22,509 kg
        Glass – 4,669 kg
        Books - 774 kg

        Barrels – 3,165 kg **

Total for 2015 – 262,024 kg
Total for 2014 at the end of July 232,687 kg

Batteries - 85 kg

E – waste shipped – 11.4 tonnes (one semi load)

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

** The barrels are from a local business. We have a special arrangement to send them for recycling.  

Comments – These numbers are great! Recycling in 2015 keeps getting better and better.

Originally published July 29/15   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

I love the phone calls when someone wants information about the correct place to take something they need to get rid of.

Examples are:

- paint, cleaners, fluorescent bulbs, and old gasoline which are hazardous waste,

- old fridges, water coolers, air conditioners which go to the compound at the Flin Flon Landfill,

- plastic bags, Styrofoam, wrapping paper which are garbage,

- plastic or glass containers, books, cardboard which we recycle.

People are becoming aware they need to get rid of things in a responsible way that will not damage the environment for people, animals and plants.

I do not like mornings when we find things at the Recycling Centre that we do not recycle.

The other day it was a refrigerator.

Other items include small appliances, exercise equipment, window blinds, toys, video tapes, yard waste, clothing, used vegetable oil, furniture and even animal parts in hunting season.

We regularly find things like pallets, and furniture in our dumpsters which the garbage truck can’t take.

A small green disposable propane canister was pulled from a dumpster. This is very serious as it can explode in the garbage truck.

We have to spend time and resources taking care of these items.  

What can you do with these items?

Hazardous items should be taken to the Hazardous Waste collection in Centoba Park on September 17.

Reusable items can be taken to second hand stores. Building materials can go to the Re-Store by the Armouries.

If it cannot be reused and is not hazardous, it goes to the landfill not the Recycling Centre or the bush.

If you aren’t sure where something goes, call us at 204-687-6169 or check the web at www.flinflonrecycling.org.   

Originally published Aug5/15  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Note:   This is a rerun of a column last year with a couple of changes. 

1.       Where and when was the first recycling collection in Flin Flon?

2.       The Recycling Centre has had ___ homes on Timber Lane?

3.       Which volunteer offered to help in 1993 and did almost every day for the next 15 years?

4.        What is the name of the recycling symbol with three arrows?

5.       Plastic bags and # _____ plastic are not recyclable locally.

6.       What colour are the bags used for curbside recycling service in Flin Flon?

7.       Who retired in 2013 after 12 years as administrator of the Recycling Centre?

8.       What percentage of revenue came from selling recyclables in 2014? 50%, 27%, 6%, 88%.

9.       The best year for recycling was 2007 when ____ metric tons (tonnes) was recycled.

10.   Who owns the Recycling Centre?

Answers:

1.       Paper  was collected at Ross Lake Market Garden in November, 1992.

2.       Three:  # 7 from December 1994 to July 1996, #6 from August 1996 to March 2004. Its current location is 9 Timber Lane.

3.       Bob Fortier’s work is a major reason there is a community recycling program today.

4.       Mobius Loop

5.       #6 plastic including Styrofoam.

6.       Red recycling bags are available at the Gas Bar, Acklands, Super K, Coop, Eddies, Pharmasave, The Dollar Store and Recycling Centre for $3.50. 2 more bags/boxes will also be picked up.

7.       Doreen Murray was the third and longest serving Administrator, guiding recycling through many challenges and changes.

8.       Six percent.

9.       500 – The free curbside and business pickups were suspended that year as they were not sustainable, then reinstated with a fee.

10.   No one. It is owned by the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc., a non-profit corporation.   

Originally published July 22/15   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

I purchased a plastic tote with a lid the other day that was made from 100% recycled plastic. The label stated that 2.9 litres of oil was saved by using recycled plastic.

Saving resources is a major reason recycling is good for the environment.

What kinds of things do the items you recycle become?

 Cascades Recovery is the company recyclables are sent to in Winnipeg.  They send materials on for recycling into the following new products:

Cardboard is made into new cardboard or boxboard like cereal boxes.

Boxboard is made into new boxboard.

Newspapers become new newspapers, magazines or boxboard.

Mild cartons and juice boxes (Tetra Paks) and office paper is recycled into tissues like ‘Kleenex’, toilet paper, etc.

Aluminum cans become new aluminium cans.

#1 plastic like pop bottles and clam shell food containers become fibres for carpets and clothing, making them stronger.

Milk jugs (#2 plastic) become new #2 plastic and is also used for car parts.

Tin is smelted to become new tin, or to make car parts.

Other plastics are recycled into new plastic like the tote I purchased.

Most of the recycling is done in mills in the Midwest or southern United States and Eastern Canada.

You can support recycling by purchasing things made from recycled materials. Check the labels of containers and paper products for information about recycled content.

Did you know the recycling symbol is called a Mobius loop? It is used on plastics to indicate what chemicals have been mixed with the plastic during manufacturing. This is important information in the recycling process.

Recycling means we take less from the earth and need less space for landfills. It is worth it.