September total – 47,032 kg
       
        Aluminum – 612 kg
        Commingled* - 11,357 kg
        Office Paper – 4,280 kg
        Cardboard – 26,423 kg
        Glass – 4,360 kg
       
Total for 2020 – 394,707 kg
Total for 2019 – 395,711 kg
Difference – -1,004 kg
 
Batteries – 32 kg

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


Comments – 

Originally published Sept 23/20 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​Headlines about recycling are something I read regularly. This one from National Public Radio investigations last week really got my attention.

‘How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Believing Plastic Would Be Recycled’

The author’s investigation revealed plastics manufacturing companies wanted to counter the negative press about plastic waste in the 1980’s and 90’s to protect their profits. It claims that placing the recycling symbols on plastics and major advertising campaigns were done to make people think that plastic is recycled when very little of it is.

The main reason given is that recycling plastic is too expensive. It takes a lot of work to sort and clean and produces a low-grade product. Plastic made from oil is much cheaper.

The article also mentioned that recycling mills are hard to find.

It was an interesting coincidence that last week I received information from a plastic recycling company that has been in business since 2007. They have mills in Listowel, Ontario and Hazelton, Pennsylvania. They are checking the market as they consider building one on the west coast.

Plastic recycling does happen. The vinyl plank flooring in my office is 50% recycled plastic. It is used in fleece clothing, carpet, car parts and other items.

Sale prices are lower since China closed their market so programs based totally on sales are probably landfilling plastics.

The Extended Producer Responsibility laws for the packaging industry in Manitoba requires them to help pay for their products when they are no longer useful. They pay subsidies to help cover the cost of recycling.
​
I am confident that our plastics are recycled. If some become unrecyclable in the future we will not take them. 

Originally published Sept 16/20 The Reminder Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Paint and fluorescent tubes have been part of our lives for a very long time. Compact fluorescent bulbs with a curly tube shape and a heavy base became popular as they use less electricity.

Both create hazardous waste when people are done with them.

Paint has a variety of chemicals that are hazardous to the environment.

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs are not harmful unless they break. They contain mercury vapour and particles.  When bulbs are broken the mercury is released into the air and onto the floor or ground. Even small amounts of mercury are very hazardous.

 Information about safely cleaning up broken fluorescent bulbs is available on Health Canada’s website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cfl-afc-eng.php.

If these items are sent to the landfill they will break or spill as landfill materials are crushed and covered, releasing the hazardous chemicals into the environment.

Industries that make paint, fluorescent bulbs and other hazardous products are required by the Province of Manitoba to provide programs and funding so households can get rid of them safely.

Product Care is the organization that provides money and information for the Household Hazardous Waste program.

The Recycling Centre has been collecting paint and fluorescent bulbs since 2016. They can be dropped off at the Centre. 

Fluorescent bulbs should be brought to the Centre when it is open to reduce the chance of bulbs breaking. Broken bulbs in sealed plastic bags will be accepted.

Please note that only CFL and fluorescent bulbs are recyclable. All other light bulbs go into the garbage.

Sixty-two boxes of bulbs were shipped in 2019. This year we have shipped 73.
​
More information is available at 204 687 6169 and www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

Originally published Sept 9/20 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre is the place that usually comes to mind when thinking about recycling in our community. However, landfills are also recycling places.

Metal recycling is a decades old practice. Scrap metal companies collect and reprocess it into new metal.  It is sold to manufacturers at current market value based on world metal prices.

There are metal piles at the Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach landfills. Placing metal items in the metal pile instead of household garbage means it will be recycled instead of being buried for centuries.

Car batteries are another item recycled from landfills. They contain valuable materials which are sold for more than the cost of recycling. The Flin Flon Lions Club collects the batteries from the Flin Flon landfill as a fundraiser.

Landfills collect used motor oil, filters, automotive antifreeze and containers from households for recycling.

The motor oil is used as fuel in environmentally safe burners at Tolko in The Pas. Antifreeze and containers are recycled.

All used tires, household hazardous waste and appliances with refrigerant are recycled from the Flin Flon Landfill only.  There is a $25.00 charge to remove refrigerants.  

Tires are shipped to Reliable Tire in Winnipeg. They make a variety of products including sidewalk blocks, hockey rink mats, blasting mats and a very durable paving material.

There are no tipping fees for recycled items unless you are a non-resident at the Saskatchewan landfills.

Many items in landfills are very usable. Instead of throwing them away, have a garage sale, take them to second hand stores or a local charity that can use them, or give them away.

Everything we have comes from the earth.
Reduce, reuse and recycle.