Originally published Dec 28/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Trivia Quiz

1. Containers sent for recycling should not be _________, _____________  or gooey.

2. Which of the following is not accepted at the Recycling Centre?   a) fluorescent bulbs  b) gift wrap      c) batteries  d) paint

3.  Is the amount of materials recycled in 2016 up or down?

4.  Recycling Centre employees work at which City of Flin Flon facility?

5. Recycling one _____________________ saves enough electricity to power a computer for five hours.

6. Which community voted to support recycling in a plebiscite in October?

7. The community recycling program has been operating for _____ years?  a) 15  b) 30  c) 24  d) 8

8. True or False – Computers and all the things that attach to them are recyclable.

9. What ‘twins’ appeared on Main St this summer?

10. True or False – Everything must be sorted before it can be sent for recycling.

Answers

1. Nothing should be drippy, Sticky or gooey when it is sent to the Recycling Centre.

2. b) It is impossible to sort recyclable from non-recyclable so no gift wrap is recycled.
 
3. Both. At the end of November total tonnage was down 15 tonnes but comingled materials were up 11 tonnes.  More homes are recycling. Less materials are coming from businesses.

4. Flin Flon Landfill. This contract subsidizes the recycling program.

5. Aluminium can

6. Denare Beach. Free pickup begins on December 27.

7. c) 24 years. A semi load of paper was shipped in November, 1992.

8. True – Computers and other electronics are shipped to Exner Ewaste in Elie Manitoba for recycling.

9. Dual garbage and recycling bins.

10. False. Very little sorting happens in Flin Flon. Most recyclables are sorted in Winnipeg. 

Originally published Dec. 21/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

* This is a slightly different version of the one published last year. 

The holiday season is a busy time at the Recycling Centre. Festivities and gift giving leaves lots of waste. Much of it can be recycled. Some things cannot.

The usual things are recyclable: beverage containers, cardboard, boxboard, all plastics containers that have a number in the recycling symbol except #6 (PS), Christmas cards, tin cans, batteries, newspapers and fliers, catalogues, magazines and office paper.  

Food and drink containers should not be drippy, sticky or gooey.

Eligible electronics can be recycled. Check the list at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca.

Things that belong in the garbage are: gift wrap, ribbons, envelopes with foil or plastic liners, coffee tins made of cardboard and metal, Styrofoam (including packing peanuts), plastic bags and wrap, plastic packaging with no number,  disposable plates and cups including coffee cups. 

We cannot recycle Christmas decorations including Christmas lights.

Call the Recycling Centre with any questions at 204 687 6169.

Reduce waste by using and reusing gift bags and enjoying each other’s company while washing dishes instead of using disposable ones. 

Gifts often replace something that is still usable. Take the time to find a new home for the old items. There are many ways to do this. Take it to a second hand store or advertise it on Trader’s Post, Kijiji, or similar service.  Or give it away.

Consider giving something that makes the world a better place and creates very little waste. Many charities have special projects you can contribute to in honour of someone on your list.

This season as always, remember that everything we have comes from the earth. As you treat each other to Christmas cheer and kindness, remember to also be kind to Mother Earth. 

Originally published Dec 7/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

* A wide variety of items are collected for recycling at the Recycling Centre. Paper and cardboard (fiber) products, plastic containers except #6 plastic, tin and aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars.  Sorting is not required.  Check our website at www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

* Containers should not be drippy, sticky, or gooey. They don’t have to be sparkling clean, but rinsing and draining makes a big difference. It prevents messes in your bin and at the Recycling Centre.  Animals and birds are not attracted to them at your home or at the Recycling Centre.  Paper products remain clean and dry when everything is comingled in bales sent to Winnipeg for sorting. 

* We recycle batteries (except vehicle) and electronics including all computers and pieces, televisions, sound systems, telephones and microwaves (the only appliance accepted). A list is available at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca. 

* The Recycling Centre collects paint, fluorescent light bulbs and thermostats for safe disposal. Check our facebook page, Flin Flon Recycling for pictures of compact fluorescent bulbs. 

*Shredded paper needs to be in a separate bag. It can go in a bigger bag with other recyclables. It should be office paper only.   

* Please remove Styrofoam from cardboard boxes as it cannot be recycled. 

* Wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons, and Christmas decorations are not recyclable.
 
* Plastic bags, disposable paper products and coffee cups are not recyclable. 

* We do not recycle ceiling tiles and other building materials. Check the landfill tab on our website. 

* We have items for reuse at the Recycling Centre including wine bottles, 3 ring binders, file folders and plastic pails. Let us know if you need something else. A small donation is appreciated.

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

Some time ago my neighbour commented that she had started recycling. She was surprised how easy it was. She thought it would be a lot more complicated.

Recycling is easy. There is no need to sort, so only one recycling bin is needed. It is just a matter of remembering which items go in which container.

There are a couple of things to remember.

Items should not be drippy, sticky or gooey. Beverage containers and anything that had liquid in it should be drained. Food containers need a quick rinse.

Lids should be removed from glass bottles and jars. This is important as the glass is crushed and used locally. The lids can cause problems in the crusher.

Shredded office/printer paper can be recycled but needs to be in a separate bag which can go in the bag with other recyclables.

Household batteries including button batteries should be in a separate bag or container to make them easy to find.

There are several ways to get recyclables to the Recycling Centre.

Creighton residents have curbside pickup every Thursday or Friday.

Curbside pickup is available Wednesday mornings in Flin Flon. Items need to be in a red bag that costs $3.50 which pays for the service. Two more bags or boxes will be picked up with one red bag.

Items in bags or boxes can be dropped off any time at the trailer beside Canadian Tire or at the Recycling Centre at 9 Timber Lane. Loose items go in the blue bins at the Centre.

A Christmas gift of recycling bags and a bin is a great way to get non-recycling friends and family started.
​
More information is available at www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

Originally published Nov 9/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It has been 24 years this month since recycling began in our community.

I have been thinking how the Recycling Centre has become a place where many items can be taken so they don’t take up space in the landfill or harm the environment.

We started with recycling common items from households and businesses including plastic containers (except number 6), paper items like newsprint, fliers, boxboard, magazines, phone books, office paper, cardboard, and tin and aluminium.

Many items have been added to the list over the years including electronics, printer cartridges, household batteries, books, paint, fluorescent bulbs, and thermostats.

Local landfills also recycle used motor oil, filters and containers, antifreeze, car batteries and metal. Tires can be left at the Flin Flon landfill for recycling.

Getting rid of stuff when we are finished with it requires more thought and effort than it used to but it makes a big difference.

The most obvious is that it saves space and money in landfills. It also saves resources by making new stuff from old things, rather than taking more from the earth.  

Recycling also saves water and energy, and reduces greenhouse gases.

Did you know that recycling one aluminium can saves enough electricity to run the average computer for five hours?

Each year for Earth Day we receive a poster with information about the environmental benefits of our recycling program the previous year.

In 2015, our community saved 4,331 mature trees, 6,809,680 litres of water, 1,094 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, 2,182,860 kWh of energy and 1, 440 cubic yards of space in the landfill.

Recycling is an easy way to make a big difference. 

Originally published Nov 2/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Who is responsible to take care of all the garbage we create?

Cities and towns are responsible for managing waste. That was much easier and cheaper when everything was garbage and just went into the landfill.

Landfills are no longer the best way. They take up lots of space, are expensive, and can harm the environment. There are better ways to deal with most of our garbage like recycling.

So who pays for that? Municipalities already spend lots of money on waste management. They can’t do it all.

The Province of Manitoba has made laws which require industries that sell stuff that is recyclable to help pay for it.  

For every specified product a company sells in Manitoba, it must pay a set amount into a fund that helps municipalities with the ‘end of life’ costs. These products include tires, oil products, beverage containers, household food items with recyclable packaging, newspapers, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, and lots of other things.  This extra cost often shows up on your bill as an enviro fee.

And where does that money go?

To the PRO’s – Producer Responsibility Organizations which are non-profit organizations run by industry. They are required by the government to pay municipalities and organizations like the Recycling Centre to cover recycling costs.

Some PRO names are like alphabet soup:  MMSM, CBCRA, EPRA, MARRC.  Some have obvious names like Mb Tire Stewardship, and Product Care. 

Last year the PRO’s paid the Recycling Centre more than $65,000.00 for household, tire and ewaste recycling.

The money doesn’t come from the taxes.  Industries help pay for recycling the waste they create.

The PRO’s make recycling happen in Manitoba.  

Originally published Oct 26/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Things were quite slow at the Recycling Centre after the snow arrived early this month. 
Now that the weather is nicer, business has definitely picked up so I spent time on the floor helping to bag up materials for recycling.

We do not sort, but have to take everything out of the boxes and bags they come in, remove the garbage, beer cans and glass.

It is a great opportunity for me to see what information people need to reduce the amount of garbage we have.

First, the good news. Many bags had very little or no garbage. I just took out some glass or beer containers. That tells me the information is available and many people are following it.  

Here are several items we still find regularly that are not recyclable:

• Plastic bags and wrap. We only recycle ‘rigid’ plastic, like containers. We cannot recycle any ‘film’ plastic like bags.
• Coffee cups, disposable plates, cups, cutlery. The only exception is plastic cups that are not a #6. The number is in recycling symbol on the bottom. If there is an ‘S’ in the letters below the symbol it is a #6.
• Styrofoam
• Paper towels, candy wrappers, Kleenex and disposable paper products.
• Dishes, window glass, etc. Only glass jars and bottles are accepted.

Items should not be drippy, sticky or gooey. I put the half full yogurt container in the garbage.

A box of newspapers and other recyclable items had a container with some solvent in it. Unfortunately, it had spilled on everything including the cardboard box.  It was garbage.

Information about what is recyclable is available at 204 687 6169 or on the web www.flinflonrecycling.org.

Originally published Oct 19/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

A recent video clip of recycling in Germany versus America was shared on the Flin Flon Recycling Facebook page. It shows how recycling is serious business in Germany but not really in America.

It implies that most North Americans put things in the garbage and never think of it again.

A resident of Germany describes the different colours of bags for different kinds of recyclables. He states that a garbage bag with recyclables in it will not be picked up. It states that Germany recycles 65% of its waste and uses 50% less energy than America.

The question is “How do we make change happen?”

Many argue that education and opportunity to recycle is all that’s needed. There is some evidence of this works.

There were a limited number of garbage and recycling cans at the Snowbirds event this summer and there wasn’t much litter afterwards to clean up. Most beverage containers were in recycling bins.

Several Creighton residents report they started recycling because there is free pickup.

Recycle Everywhere provides free recycling bins for public spaces and beverage container recycling rates in Manitoba are increasing.

The Facebook video clip argued that rules requiring recycling makes change happen.

The province of Nova Scotia has had laws requiring recycling and composting for many years.

Some cities and towns including The Pas require residents to buy a tag for their garbage bags and recycling pickup is free.  Other cities and towns have fines for recyclables in garbage.

Many people recycle because it is the right thing to do.

Policy change is needed to get the rest of the people recycling.

It reduces landfill costs and saves resources for our grandchildren. 

Originally published Oct 12/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

*Denare Beach residents will decide if they want to support recycling with the municipal election this month. The question released last month is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. It asks if people support paying an additional fee to cover the costs of recycling.

I am not very optimistic. Most people have a hard time saying yes to paying out more money. I was hoping the Village Council would support recycling from taxes like Creighton and Flin Flon. I know it all comes from the same place, but it feels different.

*Overall recycling tonnage continues to go down but the amount of recycling coming from homes is up by almost 8 metric tons. That is a good thing.

*The household hazardous waste collection that usually takes place at Centoba Park one afternoon in September didn’t happen this year. The City of Flin Flon has applied for funding for a year round hazardous depot at the landfill. It will mean that hazardous waste items can be dropped off any time the Flin Flon landfill is open.

I had hoped it would open this fall, but the application process has taken longer than expected.

*Another load of electronic waste was shipped in September. The Recycling Centre accepts a variety of electronic items including computers and everything attached to them, sound systems, televisions, telephones, photocopiers. The only appliance accepted is microwaves.

A complete list is available at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca.

*A load of semi tires was shipped from the Flin Flon landfill last month. Tires are made into a variety of things including paving material for roads.
​
Keep up with the news on our facebook page, Flin Flon Recycling or on the web www.flinflonrecycling.org. 

Originally published Oct 5/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Several times I find myself asking ‘why’. Here are a few examples.

1. Why do people buy bottled water?
      - Cities and towns spend lots of tax money to build and run water treatment plants that make sure the water is safe and good.
     -  Buying a bottle of water means that bottle is used once then thrown away or recycled. It is also very expensive. 
       -      There are many kinds of reusable water bottles that can be filled from the tap and used over and over again, reducing waste.
       -  If water quality is a problem outside of towns, using large refillable water containers like the ones used for water coolers is the best way to reduce waste.
 
2. Why do people dump garbage in the bush?
      - The short straight forward answer is because they either lazy, too cheap or both. 
    - There is a lot of information about where and how to dispose of things responsibly. Check our website at www.flinflonrecycling.org. The info is on the Recycle and Landfill tabs. A call to the Recycling Centre can also provide information of how to dispose of things properly.
     - There are no tipping fees for things that are recycled from the landfill. Loads with only tires, metal, used oil/antifreeze and their containers, or car batteries get in free.
 
3.  Why are so many households still not recycling?
    -Our survey in the spring included 80 from people who are not recycling. The main reason checked off for not recycling was ‘I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.’  Now is a good time to start. There are pictures recyclable items on our facebook page ‘Flin Flon Recycling’. 

Originally published  Sept 28/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Every time I see an aluminium can in the garbage I cringe. In my opinion, it should be illegal to throw them away.

I did some research and found that recycling aluminium is a very simple process which uses 95% less electricity than making it from scratch.

To put that in perspective, recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to light one 100 watt light bulb for 20 hours or power one laptop for over 5 hours.

There are other environmental issues that make recycling aluminium a much better idea.

Making aluminium from the raw material called bauxite requires lots of cheap electricity so aluminium plants have large hydroelectric dams close by. These dams cause major damage to the natural flow of rivers.

Fluoride is the main chemical used in making aluminium. The process results in several toxic left overs that contain fluoride. These may be released into the environment, usually as gases into the air. In countries with poor regulations and reporting laws, there can be considerable health problems for workers and pollution in the environment. This has been documented in several places.

Aluminium is made in many parts of the world.  China is the largest producer.  

Aluminium can be recycled over and over again. A recycled can may become another aluminium can within 60 days.

According to Wikipedia, Brazil recycles the most at 98% of its aluminium cans. The US recycled 31%.

If it is not recycled, an aluminium can will take 500 years to break down.

Recycling aluminium is easy and so environmentally friendly, it should be illegal to throw aluminium cans away.

So if you see any, be sure to get them into a recycling bin.

Originally published  Sept 21/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Over the summer we have researched the idea of banning single use plastic bags. It seems to be a good idea because of litter problems and the effects of plastic collecting in oceans.  

A friend sent an article comparing the effect on the environment of using a plastic bag and a reusable cotton bag. The cotton bag needed to be used 393 times to equal the effect on the environment of using one plastic bag three times. It counted the environmental impact of making each bag including the carbon emissions and fertilizer from growing the cotton.

If the reusable bag isn’t cotton, the big picture is much better.  

It seems so complicated!

Scientists continue to discover how complicated and interactive the Earth’s systems are. Much of the mess we have is because we don’t understand this and/or we don’t care. Most people are focused on convenience and making money.

Our economic system is also very complicated. I read of a power company canceling its solar power program for households because with so many people producing their own power the company wasn’t making as much money.

It may feel like ‘Why should I change anything? It won’t make a difference anyway.’

Consider this. I purchased 6 reusable shopping bags in 1989. As a result I have used at least 5,000 fewer plastic bags.

The effects of your efforts do add up.

Some changes seem too tough, but without change the consequences will be even tougher.

So do something. Be informed. Continue to make changes.

Reduce how much of everything you use. Reuse and recycle what you can.

Think globally about how things affect the earth. Act locally in your home and community. 

Originally published Sept 14/16 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 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.

Books become fibre trays for shipping fruit.

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

Aluminum cans become new aluminium cans.

Pop bottles and clam shell food containers (#1 plastic) become fibres for carpets and fleece clothing.  

Milk jugs (#2 plastic) are reground to make new #2 plastic containers and 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 recycling happens in mills in the Midwest or southern United States and Eastern Canada.
​
You can support recycling by buying items 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. 

Originally published  Sept 7/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Community recycling began 24 years ago.  I have been privileged to be in the front lines of making it happen. It has been an interesting journey with lots of learning by doing and making mistakes.

I was reminded again these last few weeks that many people are part of making it happen. 

In the beginning all the work was done by volunteers. Their skills and contributions helped avoid pitfalls and find good ways to move the program forward.

Bob Fortier’s contributions were invaluable. He asked one day if he could volunteer less than a year after recycling began. He volunteered almost every day for 15 years, doing whatever needed to be done.

Some volunteers  helped for a short time and others contributed for several years.  Some sorted recyclables for shipping. Others helped behind the scenes with money, publicity, fundraising, and finding or maintaining the building.  

Thirty two people have served as Board members of the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc., the non-profit organization responsible for the recycling program. They spent many hours making decisions and working to keep the program going in some very tough times.

Recyclers are the main contributors to the program. If no one wanted to recycle the program would not exist today.

Community was evident again this summer as eight teams participated in the Voyageur Canoe Races and a crowd enjoyed the music at the Cabar-eh! Both were fundraisers for recycling.

Individuals do many little things that help. Thanks to a volunteer Board member the recycling truck is looking good with new blue paint. The landscaping and ‘skirting’  on the trailer at the Recycling Centre are wonderful improvements.

Thanks to everyone who makes recycling happen. 

Originally published Aug 24/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The highest percentage of revenue for the Recycling Centre comes from the Recycling Support Grants paid by Flin Flon and Creighton.  The grant formula is $11.40 per person.

The money is used only to cover the costs of processing and shipping recyclables. There is a fee for all pickup services.

The Recycling Centre serves the whole community including Denare Beach and people living outside Flin Flon and Creighton.  Everyone can drop their recyclables off at the Centre at 9 Timber Lane or the trailer by Canadian Tire.

The Recycling Centre has tried to work out a way for Recycling Support grants to be paid on behalf of residents outside of Flin Flon and Creighton.  

Denare Beach Village Council has been asked to support recycling like Creighton and Flin Flon. They have decided to go to the people on the issue with a plebiscite being this fall with the municipal election.

Payments on behalf of lake residents are more challenging as there is no local tax base.

Discussions with the Department of Conservation which is responsible for the lakes areas in Manitoba have shown that it is not a simple matter. The fees they collect and the payments they make for residents are governed by regulations and legislation that is not easily changed.

There has been some discussion with individuals on the executives of the cottager’s associations. This may provide a way for recycling support from lake residents.

Some residents living outside of Flin Flon and Creighton have made recycling support payments to the Recycling Centre beginning in 2013 based on the same per person formula. The average paid each year is $650.00, equal to 57 people.  

Guest post by summer student Crystal Hiebert, originally published Aug 17/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop

In any debate, there are two sides, each with valid arguments to support its claim. So, why act like there is only one side when deciding whether to ban plastic bags?
 
The City of Flin Flon has asked that we weigh in on the decision to ban single-use plastic bags, following Thompson and The Pas who has mandated such by-laws in 2010 and 2016, respectively.
 
As a self-proclaimed eco-friendly organization, this should be an easy decision for the Recycling Centre, right? The issue is not black and white, but much more controversial than rooting for one side.
 
Why ban the plastic bag when they’re convenient, reusable, and take up less space and energy than the replacement, the paper bag. A ban requires sacrifice, a change in habit, and more expenses. But, are these arguments significant in comparison to the opposition?
 
There is a good reason why the ban is implemented in other locations across Canada. If we ignored this issue from now on, the environment would continue to decline. Plastic would keep crawling up the food chain from our oceans and wildlife, travel through wind and water systems from our static landfills, and remain indigestible for as long as the Earth turns.
 
The reality is people have other concerns to worry about.
 
When deciding yes or no, it comes down to the bigger picture. Will a ban make a big enough of a change in the long run? Or is this somewhere we can put our foot down and stop something we can control. We started it and we can stop it. Weigh the pros and cons of each side and see where your decision lies in banning plastic bags.
 

Originally published Aug 10/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

At this point in the year, it is easy to see some definite changes in recycling in our community.

First, the good news.  The amount of co-mingled materials processed is up from the end of July last year. These are the recyclables sent to Winnipeg for sorting.

Last year 67,637 kg of co-mingled materials had been processed.  This year we have processed 73,597 kg, an increase of 5,960 kg or almost six metric tons (MT).

These materials reflect what is happening in people’s homes. It means more people are recycling.

Office paper recycling is also up by just over two MT.

Now for the bad news. Overall recycling has fallen by just over 10 metric tons.

Glass and newspaper have dropped a little more than 2 MT. The biggest drop is in corrugated cardboard, the boxes that everything comes to town in. It is down by 9,263 kg, or just over 9 MT.

This seems to reflect a slowdown our community. Regular business customers who call when they need a pick up are calling less often.  Much of the cardboard is dropped off on the dock after hours, so it is hard to monitor, but the lower weight overall tells the story.

It is highly unlikely we will reach the goal of 500 metric tons this year. We processed 460 in 2015.

One load of electronics weighing just over 10 MT was shipped in June. This is the same as last year.

Battery recycling is up slightly from last year.

Recycling stats are posted monthly on our website. 

In other news, lids must be removed from glass jars and bottles as it is crushed locally and used for industrial purposes.

Guest post by summer student Crystal Hiebert, originally published Aug 3/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

If I can pass along some insider tips from my experience at the Recycling Centre, it would be to keep yourself up to speed on recycling information or ditch the excuses if you aren’t recycling yet.
 
Both recyclers and non-recyclers can learn something.
 
The loyal recyclers, who may be making it harder for themselves by continuing to sort, can re-educate themselves about recycling. What was recyclable in the past may not be acceptable anymore and new materials are continuously added.
 
Information is always changing so stay up to date by visiting our Website, www.flinflonrecycling.org, and Facebook Page. Watch our sign located by the Armouries or call us at 204 687-6169.
 
Opposite to the loyal recyclers are the lazy ones; they see the blue bin and everything goes in. Garbage comes along for a ride to the Recycling Centre and the recycling process is much more difficult.
 
There is a recycling bin and a garbage can for a reason. Educate yourself on how to sort the recyclables from the garbage. For example, not all plastic is recyclable. Plastic containers, or rigid plastics, are acceptable whereas film plastics, such as cereal box liners or plastic bags are not.
 
Not everyone is as keen on recycling.  Non-recyclers have many reasons for not recycling according to our 2016 Recycling Survey. But the truth is, recycling does not take too much space, does not need extra “time” to get around to it, and is simple to do. It takes one bin and is as easy as throwing out the trash.
 
A little goes a long way in recycling. No matter what kind of recycler you are, take our advice and make a difference today.
 

Guest post by summer student Crystal Hiebert, originally published July 27/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Who do you think is more inclined to recycle, the Baby Boomers or the Millennials? Despite the assumption that the younger generation is “greener”, they recycle less than the older generation.
 
Studies show that young people are more knowledgeable about what and how to recycle than the older crowd but lack the time and desire in their busy, tech-savvy, high-paced lives. Even though recycling is continuing to become more common today, the Baby Boomers show a greater effort to recycle.
 
Is it much of a problem? Just because recycling is not the focus for the younger population, does not mean they lose the title of being the Green Generation.
 
Millennials are conscious of global warming and sustainability by different means such as reducing usage of electricity or gasoline, purchasing eco-friendly products like hybrids, or switching to alternative energy sources. They are more involved in sustaining the environment by a social means rather than the traditional bureaucratic approach.
 
Even though the Baby Boomers are superior in recycling, they are less “active” in reducing their carbon footprint overall. Years of harming the Earth have created other consequences that later generations have to clean up: depleted resources, a declining ecosystem, and global warming to name a few.
 
Can the Millennials who “reduce and reuse” and the Baby Boomers who “recycle” meet in the middle?
 
Each generation can learn a thing or two from one another.
 
Instead of viewing the Millennials as Generation “Meh”, who are supposedly lazy and selfish, remember recycling is just part of the answer.
 
Recycling is as easy as one bin at the front door while reducing and reusing is as simple as walking to work or going paperless.
 

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

​Our recent survey showed that people are not sure about recycling televisions and computers.  

A wide variety of electronic items including televisions and computers and their parts are accepted by the Recycling Centre at 9 Timber Lane.

A complete list can be found at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca/mb. Be sure the item is on the list before bringing it to the Centre.

The ewaste is packaged and shipped to Exner  Ewaste, a Manitoba company that meets high safety standards for recycling electronics.  Almost 28 metric tons was shipped from Flin Flon in 2015.

The Recycling Centre has been involved with electronics recycling since 2009. It was a summer program only for the first three years and funded by Green Manitoba which is part of government.  

Manufacturers and retailers of electronic products took over responsibility through a non-profit organization called Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) in August 2012. It is required by law to ensure electronics are recycled responsibly in a way that is safe for the workers and the environment.

The electronics don’t end up in landfills or shipped overseas. 

Electronics recycling conserves resources as the plastics, glass and metals including precious metals are recovered and sold to make new materials.

An environmental handling fee (EHF) is added to eligible electronic items  at the store to fund the program.  It is not a tax collected by government or a deposit that will be returned.

The EPRA uses this money to cover the cost of recycling electronics.  They pay the Recycling Centre for collecting and storing electronics and shipping costs.

Items can be dropped off at the Recycling Centre at any time. Centre staff can assist weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

Originally published July 13/16   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Subsidies to help communities remove items from the waste stream  by recycling have been available since the early 1990’s in Manitoba.

When the program was introduced it subsidized five materials: newsprint, tin cans, aluminium cans, #1 plastic (beverage containers) and glass. Communities are required to recycle all these materials to be eligible for the subsidy.

Glass has been a challenge.

As a material, glass can be recycled quite easily into new glass. Less energy is required to recycle glass than to make it from scratch.  It is also used in the manufacture of fiberglass.

 It must be clean which doesn’t refer to dirt which is easily removed by washing.

Problems arise when ceramics (like dishes) and other materials are mixed in. There are machines which detect and remove ceramics.

Very little glass from Manitoba is recycled. It is reused for other purposes such as sandblasting or aggregate for road building and ground cover.

The main reason is location.

The only glass recycling plant in Canada is in Ontario. There is a plant in Minnesota. A fibreglass manufacturer in Alberta uses recycled glass.

The cost of shipping is the problem.

The Recycling Centre is currently looking at a couple of options for glass which will require that our glass is ‘cleaner’.

Cleaner means does not refer to washing. It means the lids need to be removed. There cannot be any dishes, light bulbs, mirrors, or anything that is not a glass jar or bottle. We will need to make sure glass items are removed from the bags or boxes they arrive in.
 
Please send only glass jars and bottles to the Recycling Centre and remove the lids. It will be greatly appreciated. 

Originally published  July 6/16  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre conducted a survey at the Leisure Show in April and two days at the Coop. Everyone who completed the survey was entered in a draw for a Samsung Tablet and a $100.00 grocery gift card from the Coop.

There were 429 usable surveys completed. Eighty of those surveyed are currently not recycling.

There were several things we wanted to know including if people had enough information about what was recyclable and if their information was correct.

Computers, televisions and tires were the three recyclable items that a majority of people did not know they could recycle.

Non-recyclable items that the majority thought they could recycle or weren’t sure about were photographs, paper towels, disposable coffee cups, and Styrofoam.

We also wanted to know where people get their information about recycling. Most people (52%) got their information from other people. The other sources from most to least used were pamphlets, Recycling Centre, Facebook and the website.

The survey asked those who are not recycling why they did not recycle. The most common reason at 19% was ‘I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.’ Ten percent said they plan to start soon.

The second most common reason at 17% was ‘I don’t have space.’ Eleven percent indicated that ‘It makes too much clutter’ is related.
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Nine percent needed indicated they were too lazy and eight percent needed more information.

No one indicated that recycling isn’t necessary or important.  

Creighton residents are very happy with their pickup service although some still drop their recyclables off. 

We would like to thank everyone who completed the survey. Linda Eryou won the tablet. Hillary Scully won the grocery card. 

Originally published June 29/16   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre processes a wide variety of materials that are shipped to mills all over North America to be made into something new.

We collect packaging, paper, batteries, computers and parts like printers, monitors, etc. We collect old paint and fluorescent bulbs and tubes from homes for proper disposal.

Here is the list to clip and save. Our survey indicated that most people get their information from others so please share this information widely. The list is also available on our website and on Facebook Flin Flon Recycling.

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Recyclable
 
      Newspapers, fliers, catalogues, phone books
     Office paper, envelopes - coloured or white (shredded in separate bag)
     Books
     Boxboard (i.e. cereal boxes), milk cartons, juice boxes
     Plastics Containers- #1 (PETE), #2(HDPE) #3(PVC) #4(LDPE) #5(PP) #7 (other)
     Glass containers
     Tin cans
     Aluminium cans
     Corrugated Cardboard
     Household Batteries (in a sealed plastic bag)
*nothing can be drippy, sticky, or gooey.
*remove lids from glass containers. No glass dishes.

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We receive a variety of items that are not recyclable.  There are the usual things like Styrofoam, plastic bags, disposable coffee cups, photographs, disposable paper products like paper towel.
 
We also receive vacuum cleaners, BBQ’s, window blinds, siding, toys, clothes, coffee makers, power tools, hot water tanks, propane tanks,  weed eaters to name a few.  
 
If something is reusable we may use it, or advertise it. We sometimes take items to the second hand stores or the Re-Store. Finding the time and space to manage reusable items is challenging. It is best that everyone takes care of their items.
 
If it is on the list, recycle it. If it is not, it’s garbage.

Originally published June 15/16   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Flin Flon Recycling Centre is operated by a non-profit corporation, the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc. As a non-profit its goal is to recycle as much as possible, not make money.

The Recycling Centre still needs enough money to operate. Funding comes from several places including donations and fundraising.

There are two fundraising events Trout Festival weekend.

The Cabar-eh on July 1 is an evening of excellent music with Brent Parkin, a Juno Award winning performer and his All Star Band. They play a variety of blues and swing. There will be a dance floor.

The event is arranged and hosted by Greg East and Jan Modler and is always a good time.
Tables of eight are available for $200.00. Call Greg at 204 687 0754 to reserve a table or for more information.  

The second event is part of the paddling tradition of this community. Two Voyageur Canoes from the epic 1967 canoe trip to Expo 67 in Montreal are in the water at Ross Lake by Stittco for the Voyageur Canoe races.

Teams of 10 race around a course set in the lake. Each race is between five and ten minutes. Teams are timed and the fastest team wins bragging rights.

The entry fee is $100.00 per team. Last year several teams were sponsored by local businesses that didn’t have paddlers. The paddlers volunteered from the crowd.

Paddles and life jackets are provided.

To register a team call Greg at 204 687 0754. If you want to participate and do not have a team, come to the Stittco Parking lot at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday July 2. There will be a paddle for you.  

Originally published June 8, 2016   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

You may have noticed the new dual recycling/ garbage bins on Flin Flon Main Street. When I last counted four were in place. There will be eight more.

I like to think of garbage and recycling bins as fraternal twins. Both collect leftovers or waste. One sends non-recyclable items to the landfill. The other sends recyclable items on to a second life.

If I had my way, all waste bins whether garbage or recycling would have its twin next to it. It gives people the opportunity to choose the right destination for what they need to get rid of.

A waste audit of the contents of the recycling and garbage bins on Flin Flon Main Street and in the parks was done in 2014.

At that time 55% of the materials in the recycling bins on Main St. and 59% in the park recycling bins was garbage. Five percent of the garbage on Main St and 18% of park garbage was recyclable.

The bins on Main Street stood alone. In the parks, they were alone or their twin was not very close by.

The new bins are in place because of a project coordinated by the Recycling Centre. The Recycle Everywhere program contributed the recycling side of the bin, the logos and the shipping. The Flin Flon Neighbourhood Revitalization Corporation and the City of Flin Flon provided the funding for the other half of ten bins.  Reliance Services and another local business sponsored one bin each.

There will be twelve locations with the choice to recycle or garbage your leftovers on Main Street when the project is complete.

The old bins will placed with their twin in the parks.