Originally published Nov 28/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Cans and bottles from pop, beer, water and other beverages make up nine to twelve percent of the waste stream.  This may not seem like a lot but it is significant.

Most beverage containers are recyclable. The exceptions are drink pouches, coffee cups and serving cups made of #6(PS) plastic.

Beverage containers affect the local recycling program in a variety of ways.

Aluminum cans are separated and sold for $700.00 per metric ton or tonne. This helps offset the drop in cardboard prices.

It should be illegal to throw aluminum cans in the garbage as they are easily recycled. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a laptop for 5 hours.

Beer cans and bottles are separated and returned for the deposit that was paid when they were purchased. This has provided more than half of the revenue from selling materials this year.

Beverage containers are responsible for the majority of contamination of recyclables. Many arrive with liquid still in them. If they are not sealed and mixed with other recyclables, the wet paper materials become garbage.

Recycling Centre staff open bottles with liquids and empty them. This takes extra time.

If the liquid in bottles and cans are missed and get into the bale, it ruins paper materials in the bale and makes a mess on the conveyor, inside of the baler and the floor.

Please make sure containers are empty.

Beverage containers purchased in our community should be recycled in our community. Taking them to Saskatchewan for money is illegal.

The Saskatchewan program pays back the deposit paid when the container was purchased. The deposit is not paid on containers purchased in our area of Saskatchewan.

Originally published Nov 21/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The annual MARR forum always provides the opportunity to learn more about recycling and waste management.

Here are a few things I learned this year.

Tie a knot in plastic bags when throwing them away and they won’t blow around.  Of course the better thing to do is use reusable bags.

As more and more dumps/landfills become places that also collect recyclables, hazardous waste, and compost they need a new name. They are materials management facilities.

There are 11 licensed compost facilities in Manitoba. Five are privately owned and six are operated by municipalities. There are grants available to develop large compost sites.

Recycling has always been cyclical. It is currently in the downward part of the cycle. It was brought on by China only accepting recyclables that are 98% pure.  This has resulted in companies deciding to bring idle recycling mills in North America back into production.

Some of the mills are being purchased by Chinese companies who need the recyclables for their production. The plan is to use the mills here to remove contamination and send the clean products (mostly plastics and fiber like corrugated cardboard) to manufacturers in China. It will probably be at least two years before this makes a difference in the markets.

There was a very interesting tour of ReGen Composites. This company has patented a process that turns all mixed plastics (except number 6) including plastic bags and film, and waste paper and wood into building materials that are strong and rot resistant.

There is a picture of our commingle bales at the Emterra recycling plant in Winnipeg. I know they are our bales because we write the weight and date on our bales. 

Originally published Nov 14/18 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

A short phrase that summarizes something important helps us remember things.  We have several of these ‘one liners’ for the community recycling program.
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       1. Easy to Recycle – All recyclables can go in one bag. Shredded paper and batteries should be in a smaller bag which can go in the larger one with everything else. Recyclables can be dropped off at the Recycling Centre or in the trailer by Canadian Tire or picked up at your house. Denare Beach’s pick up day is Tuesday, Flin Flon is Wednesday and Creighton is Thursday or Friday. Flin Flon residents need to buy a red bag which pays for the service.
 
          2. If it’s on the list recycle it, if it’s not, it is garbage – The amount of garbage that arrives at the Recycling Centre has been steadily decreasing, but we still get quite a bit. Check the pictures on the website at www.flinflonrecycling.org  or the Flin Flon Recycling facebook page.  A paper list is available at the Centre. You can request an emailed copy at recycled@mymts.net or call 204 687 6169.
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          3. I love questions – When people phone the Centre or stop me in the grocery store it makes me happy. People want to get rid of things responsibly and less garbage shows up at the Centre.

          4.  Not drippy, sticky or gooey.  – Recyclables do not need to be sparkling clean but they should not be drippy, sticky or gooey.  If beverage containers are empty that is fine. A half cup of laundry detergent or yogurt in their containers is not.  Lids should be removed from items as much as possible.  Labels do not need to be removed.
             5.  Recycling makes a difference.

November total – 42,114 kg
       
        Aluminum – 338 kg
        Co-mingled* - 12,129 kg
        Office Paper – 2,692 kg
        Cardboard – 23,111 kg
        Glass – 2,943 kg
        Books - 797

Total for 2018 – 472,924 kg
Total for 2017 – 430,138 kg
Difference – +42,784 kg


E – waste –  a load was shipped. Weight will be available shortly
 
Batteries – 112  kg

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


Comments – Traditionally November is a slow month. This year October was the slow month and November was busy. Co-mingled materials are 6,912 kg less than last year. Corrugated cardboard is 46 tonnes ahead.