September total – 39,762 kg
       
        Aluminum – 603 kg
        Co-mingled* - 11,321 kg
        Office Paper – 2,244 kg
        Cardboard – 21,032 kg
        Glass – 3,498 kg
        Books - 688

Total for 2018 – 391,839 kg
Total for 2017 – 350,503 kg
Difference – +41,336 kg
 
Batteries – 72  kg

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

Originally published Sep 26/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Conventional wisdom is that curbside pickup of recyclables increases recycling rates so it is worth the cost.  

Not everyone is convinced.

Many question its value pointing out the pollution created by driving to every home. The same concern comes up in questions about the pollution created by shipping materials far away to be made into something new.

Consider this. One truck driving to many homes in one trip creates less pollution than one vehicle from every home driving to the Recycling Centre.  

It is true there would not be extra pollution if a person is dropping recycling in the trailer by Canadian Tire while on a shopping trip or at the Centre while getting gas from the Cardlock.  However, many trips are more polluting than one
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In the bigger picture, more pollution is created making brand new things than using recycled materials.

Curbside pickup also benefits operations at the Recycling Centre.

I realized this when I spoke with people at The Pas Recycling shortly after Christmas when we are piled high with recyclables to process.

I asked how their after Christmas rush was. The Administrator indicated they really didn’t have one. They provide curbside pickup throughout most of their community including rural areas so recyclables come in on a schedule and can be taken care of as it comes in.

Curbside makes processing more manageable.  For example, we expect and can prepare for the recyclables from Creighton and Denare Beach on the days they arrive.

I suspect we would not have to work weekends if all in town residents used curbside pickup.

Our current system is working but more curbside pickup could make it better. 

Originally published Sep 19/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Research shows that making recycling convenient is the most effective way of increasing residential recycling rates. 

The City of Flin Flon purchased the trailer parked by Canadian Tire to collect recyclables in 2014 to make recycling more convenient for their residents. The trailer is emptied two to three times a week which indicates people are using it.

Curbside pickup is the most common way of increasing convenience.
 
The historical high in our community for tonnes recycled in a year is 500 in 2007. It was the fourth year of relatively free curbside pickup in Flin Flon and Creighton. The service ended May that year and recycling rates dropped. I wonder what the tonnage that year would have been that year if curbside had continued.

Curbside pickup has resulted in significant increases in recycling in Creighton and Denare Beach since they have provided it for their residents.  

There is a cost for the convenience.

Creighton was able to provide the service with very little extra cost by changing one of the two weekly garbage pickups to a recycling pickup. Denare Beach residents voted in favour of paying a small annual fee per household to cover the costs.

The Recycling Centre began offering biweekly curbside service in Flin Flon in 2010. Residents buy a red bag to pay for the service.  It became a weekly service in 2015.

Promotion of the red bag curbside service has resulted in more users although the number remains low. The program is just covering expenses but we would like to continue it as people without vehicles depend on it.

Is the $3.50 charge the reason?
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Next week we will look at the other benefits of curbside pickup.