Originally published Dec 20/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

By the time this is published there will something new in the Recycling Centre. It will bring big changes to how recyclables are processed at the Centre.

Nothing will change for people bringing recyclables.  

We are finally moving our new baler that has been sitting in the parking lot since the beginning of November into the building.

The challenge of unloading it was just the beginning.

The machine weighs just over 3,600 kilograms or 8,000 pounds. It is sitting on its side which is a good thing because it will fit through the door.

Lifting it up on the dock and moving it in will be the first challenge. A zoom boom will be doing the work as it must be picked up from the top.

The next biggest challenge will be setting it upright. A gantry will be used to accomplish this task.

Then the baler will be moved into its designated spot, the mast, raised up into the ceiling and the conveyor, attached. We may have to move some water pipes.

Finally the electricity will be hooked up.

This is the biggest thing that has happened in the recycling program for a very long time.

The second baler will make things more efficient. The conveyor will feed co-mingled materials into the baler removing at least one step from the process.

Two bales can be made at the same time and if the twenty year old baler goes down materials can still be baled in the new one.  This is important as there is not much space for storage.
​
It will change where and how things move but the advantages will make it worth it.
Thank you to Frontier Industries for doing the work. 

Originally published Dec 13/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Note- This column is 'recycled' every Christmas with just a few changes. 

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 plastic containers with 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.

Things that belong in the garbage are: gift wrap, ribbons, envelopes with foil or plastic liners, food containers made of cardboard and metal, all Styrofoam,  plastic bags and wrap, plastic packaging with no number,  disposable plates , utensils and coffee cups.

Check plastic cups as many are #1 or #5 which can be recycled.

We cannot recycle Christmas decorations including Christmas lights.

Check the website www.flinflonrecycling.org or call 204 687 6169 for more information.

Reduce waste by using/ 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 these items to a second hand store or advertise them on Trader’s Post, Kijiji, or similar service.  Or give it away.

Electronics such as computers and their parts, sound systems, televisions, gaming systems, telephones and microwaves can be recycled. Check the list at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca.

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 6/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre staff are great.

This morning one of them brought me a box to use with school kids. There were four pictures showing how the product was made from recycled cardboard. I will need to enlarge it to show a group of children.

It reminds me of the box I found from a case of paper towels.  There was a ‘Green Roll Certified’ stamp and an ‘Eco-logo’ stamp and another one indicating these were environmentally friendly towels. The box was made of 100% recycled cardboard.

What got my attention was the ‘Cascades’ company logo.  We ship our materials to this company. Our office paper or ‘Printers Mix’ (the industry name for this grade of paper) is made into paper towels and similar things.

This box brought materials we recycled back for use in our community. Then the box was recycled again.

The Mobius loop is complete.

Recycled materials have become quite established in the process of making many things.

The floor covering in my office was recently replaced with vinyl plank that was 50% recycled materials.

Scrap metal and recycled plastic are part of every new car.

Plastic from pop bottles (number one plastic) is used in mattresses, clothing and carpet. An interesting bit of trivia is that the price paid for recycled #1 plastic has fallen in the past few years as fewer people use  carpet in their homes.

I wish more office paper became new office paper instead of disposable things like paper towels. It does in the US where a percentage of recycled content is required by law.
Many different things make recycling happen.
​
Check the pictures on the Flin Flon Recycling Facebook page. 

Originally published Nov 29/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

This is my new favourite verb!

I didn’t make it up. It is part of a video about recycling that I posted on the Flin Flon Recycling Facebook group.  The video is from New York City but has valuable information.  Check it out.

One of the problems identified in the video is ‘wish-cycling’. The verb is defined as “The act of throwing something not recyclable into the recycling bin hoping it can be recycled when it cannot.”

The main example in the video is plastic bags or film plastic. This is something we see a lot of at the Recycling Centre. It includes plastic wrap and the tear open packaging. If it is not hard plastic, we can’t recycle it.

Another common non-recyclable item we receive is coffee cups. Many are labeled compostable and environmentally friendly. However, there is a difference between compostable and recyclable. Compostable items will break down in a compost pile but do not have the strong long fibres required for recycling. Other coffee cups cannot be recycled as they have too many non-paper materials in them such as waxes or plastic.

Other common wish-cycling items at the Recycling Centre are Styrofoam, wrapping paper, toys, window blinds, building materials, office and patio furniture, cupboards and fans. The list is much longer.

Sometimes we can use the items. Sometimes I advertise things or take them to local second hand stores.Most of it ends up in the landfill. Getting it there takes time and uses fuel.

Wish-cycling wastes time and energy.
​
Wishing that something to be recyclable doesn’t mean it is. Please check the website at www.flinflonrecycling.org , our Facebook page or call (204) 687-6169 if you are not sure.  

Originally published Nov 22/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Electronic gadgets have become a big part of the things we use each day. They also wear out or are no longer needed.

They should not end their lives in the landfill as they are recyclable.   

The Recycling Centre at 9 Timber Lane accepts electronics for recycling. This includes computers and all their parts, sound systems, televisions, telephones, photocopiers and microwaves.

There is information on the sign at the Recycling Centre and on the web at www.recycleMYelectronics.ca/mb.

Items can be left on the dock at any time.  Bring items between 8 and 3:30 on weekdays or 11 and 2 on weekends if you need help with large items or you want them to be locked up.

The electronics are stacked on pallets and wrapped for shipping to Exner Ewaste, a Manitoba company that meets high safety standards for recycling electronics.

The Recycling Centre has been involved with electronics recycling since 2009. It was a summer program only for the first three years.  

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.

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

The environmental handling fee (EHF) added to eligible electronic items at the store funds the program.  The EPRA uses this money to cover the cost of recycling electronics.  They pay the Recycling Centre for collecting and storing the items and the shipping costs.
​
Over 30 metric tons have been shipped in 2017.

​Originally published Nov 15/17 in The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

There is a picture on the wall in my office from the November 16, 1992 edition of the The Reminder.  I am loading paper into a semi-trailer.

This picture captures the humble beginnings of recycling in our community.  

The newly formed Environment Committee decided to try recycling in our community.  I called other recyclers in the province for information on how to make it work.

It was an exciting and challenging time. 

Recycling was stored in semi-trailer for two years before moving into 7 Timber Lane in 1994.

A capitalization grant from the City of Flin Flon in 1996 allowed us to buy equipment. This meant recycling was here to stay.

I had no idea then what recycling would become.

Twenty-five years later we have recycled 7,525 metric tonnes.

The Environment Committee became the Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc. in 1995.

We own a building, two vehicles, two balers and a forklift. We have 10 employees.

We also recycle batteries, printer cartridges, electronics, paint and fluorescent bulbs.

Our employees are at the landfill where tires, oil, metal and hazardous waste are recycled.   

And I am still here. I got involved because I had an interest in protecting the environment.

I was the first paid employee for 9 months beginning in 1996.  Carie MacIntosh took my place. I was still very involved as the Chairperson of the Environment Council. After Carie served for four years  Doreen Murray took over.  She managed through many changes and challenges in the next 12 years.  I was hired when she retired in 2013.
​
Many people have contributed to the success of recycling in our community.  It has been a great journey. 

Originally published Nov 8/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​As I write Friday morning, we are desperately searching for a boom truck to remove our new baler from a semi.

I have learned several things this morning. Some big equipment cannot be lifted with forks. They must be lifted from above.

Next time, I will ask that question – if there is a next time. New balers are not purchased on a regular basis. The one we have is 20 years old.

There are several  boom trucks in town. Some are out of town working. Others are down. Some businesses that have a boom truck are only certified to use it for their business, not others like us.

There have been several learning curves in the 25 years the recycling program has been operating.

Our first shipment was paper packed into little boxes. There were pallets in the truck but I was not familiar with how loading and unloading with pallets worked, so the boxes were piled wherever they fit.

That load of small boxes was a real challenge to unload. The receiver commented that he understood that often people with intellectual challenges are part of recycling programs.
I didn’t bother to let him know I was responsible.

In the early days I was good at finding information and administration. I knew nothing about managing space and shipping.

Bob Fortier volunteered almost every day the first 15 years. He had worked in the warehouse before retiring so he knew about operating equipment like forklifts, and how to solve equipment and space problems.

My learning curve was much easier because of Bob.
​
As we celebrate 25 years this month I know Bob’s commitment and skills are a significant factor in our success. 

Originally published Nov 1/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

I attended the annual forum of the Manitoba Association of Regional Recyclers in Winnipeg October 19. There were two tours on Wednesday afternoon before the forum.

The first tour took us to Mother Earth Recycling which recycles mattresses and electronics. Some of the electronics are refurbished and sold in their store. It is a relatively new organization. They hope to also be able to recycle furniture in the future.

Old mattresses and furniture take up a lot of space in landfills.  

PureSephera  Recovery and Recycling was our next stop. This business recycles appliances that cool things like fridges, freezers and air conditioners in a way that is completely environmentally responsible.

Several things were news to me. Refrigerant is not the only substance of concern for these items when they are thrown out. There are PCB’s and mercury in the working parts that should not be released into the environment.

At PureSephera, they remove the refrigerant, oil, mercury and PCB’s and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way.

The foam insulation found in older fridges is also a problem. The CFC’s used to make the bubbles in the foam remains trapped in it. They are released into the environment when items are shredded for salvage.

CFC’s break down the molecules in the ozone layer that protects us from harmful UV radiation from the sun. They are not destroyed in the process so continue to bounce around destroying ozone for a very long time.

Foam from the appliances at PureSephera is shipped to Montreal where it is compressed in a chamber that collects the CFC gas.
​ 
We are working to find a better way to dispose of refrigeration appliances from our community. 

​Originally published October 26/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Flin Flon landfill has a compound for fridges, freezers, and air conditioners. It was built in 2007 for an Environment Council project to protect the ozone layer by providing the removal of ozone depleting substances (OSDs) at the landfill. The program continues for a small feel

What is the concern about ozone?

At ground level it is nasty air pollution that leads to health problems.

Fifteen kilometers up in the atmosphere it is the sun screen for the earth, filtering out harmful UV radiation from the sun.

The chemicals used for refrigeration called CFCs and HCFC’s seriously destroy the ozone layer. Sunshine releases the chlorine, which is the C in the names. One atom of chlorine destroys thousands of ozone atoms in the atmosphere.  The ODS in the atmosphere today will damage ozone for another 80 years.

Life on earth needs the ozone protection from the sun’s radiation.

Less ozone causes more skin cancer, eye problems, premature aging for people and animals. It damages crops like wheat, rice and corn which are staples in people’s diets. It destroys plankton which is the food for the food we get from the oceans.

In 1987 most countries signed the Montreal Protocol which strictly regulates ODS. Anyone who works with it must be licensed.  The amounts are documented carefully and tracked. CFC’s are being phased out.

One regulation requires that all appliances must have the refrigerant removed by a certified technician before going to landfill.

Our project provides the removal service at the landfill for a fee of $25.00 which can be paid at Flin Flon City Hall or the landfill gate.
​
There will be new information in next week’s column.  

Originally published Oct 18/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​Canadians dispose of 28 million tires every year. What happens to the old ones?

Traditionally, they took up huge amounts of space in landfills. The smoke and run off from accidental tire fires is very hazardous to people and the environment. 

Tires were one of the first products that included a recycling fee when they were purchased to pay for recycling when they were worn out. This fee was reduced from $4.00 to $3.75.

Tire Stewardship Manitoba is the Producer Responsible Organization (PRO) for tires in Manitoba. It receives 100% of the recycling fee. We receive fifty cents a tire from them.

The money also supports the tire recycling companies in Manitoba as they develop products made from old tires. More information is available at http://www.tirestewardshipmb.ca/.

The equivalent of 1.8 million tires is recycled every year in Manitoba which is 100% of the tires available.

Locally, tires are collected at the Flin Flon landfill for the whole community including Creighton and Denare Beach.   There is no tipping fee for tires.

When 800 passenger tires or 300 semi tires have been collected,  a semi-trailer is loaded and sent to Reliable Tire in Winnipeg. OTR Recycling comes from Ashern to collect the oversize tires.  

A variety of products are made from tires including sidewalk blocks, stepping stones, parking curbs, rubber mulch and mats for a variety of uses including blasting, kennels, gyms, and hockey rinks.

Driveways and decks can be covered with the recycled rubber product. The rubber surface doesn’t crack and discolour even in the harsh winters. 

Another product is rubber pavement for streets and roads.  It is very quiet, and lasts much longer than traditional pavement.
​
More information is available at www.rtrrubber.ca.

Originally published Oct 11/17The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It was an interesting conversation with a supporter of recycling who had some questions.  
He wondered if recycling actually helps the environment when all the activities are considered.

He was referring to driving materials to the Recycling Centre, shipping them to Winnipeg and then to the factories and the whole process of making them into something new.

Recycling activities definitely affect the environment like everything we do. Studies have been done that compare the environmental costs to the benefits.

Recycling is a win for the environment.

This is what we know.

Recycling reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Smaller landfills take up less space and cost less to operate. They produce less acidic liquid run off called leachate and less methane and carbon dioxide.

Recycling conserves natural resources like trees, water and minerals. Recycling is less polluting and harmful to the environment than collecting raw materials and making things from scratch.

Recycling saves energy. For example, recycling aluminum cans take one twelfth of the energy it takes to make a brand new one. The amount of energy saved by recycling one aluminum can run a computer for 5 hours.

Everything we have comes from the Earth. Its resources are finite. Recycling means there will be more left for future generations.

It also creates jobs.

Every year for Earth Day the company we ship our materials sends a report of the environmental benefits from our recycling program. In 2016 we saved 4,310 mature trees, 7,040,980 liters of water, reduced carbon emissions by 1,188 tons, saved 2,666,590 kwh of energy and diverted 1,705 cubic yards of waste from the landfill.

Recycling makes a difference.  

Originally published  Sept 27/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​The tasks on Monday covered the variety of things the Recycling Centre does to take care of things people no longer need in a responsible way.

The books were packed in the box for shipping.

An email was sent to begin the process of shipping a semi-trailer of electronics for recycling.

The beer cans were counted and bagged. The bottles were sorted into flats of 24.

The printer cartridges were stacked on a pallet and wrapped for shipping.

Another email was sent requesting a load number so a semi-trailer load of tires can be shipped from the landfill this week.

The batteries were waiting to be packed in the box and sent for recycling.

There were enough four foot fluorescent tubes to fill a couple of boxes for shipping. Four more eight foot tubes arrived and were packed in the longer box.

Used oil and containers that had been left at the Recycling Centre instead of taken to the landfill were picked up. 

A caller was informed that the Household Hazardous waste depot is open every day at the Flin Flon Landfill and that information brochures are at City Hall.

The trailer from Canadian Tire was emptied at the Centre. 

The usual activities of clearing recyclables from the dock, picking up recyclables from businesses and baling materials for shipping happened. 

Three bales of comingled materials and one of cardboard were finished. Another cardboard bale was started. A bale of cardboard arrived from the Coop.

It is great the Recycling Centre is able to provide the services needed so homes and businesses in our community can make a difference by recycling.
​
Thank you to our employees and everyone who makes it happen. 

Originally published Sept 20/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Every industry and organization develops a language of initials that those who work within understand but leaves those outside with questions.
 
Here is a little quiz

1. OCC
2. FFDEC
3. EPRA
4. HHW
5. HDPE
6. MMSM
7. CBCRA
8. MARR
9. PETE
10. PM

 
___   a) office paper that is baled and sold for the current price of $75./tonne.
___  b) Provincial grassroots organization of municipal officials, employees and recycling operators.
___ c) The local non-profit organization that runs the Recycling Centre in Flin Flon.
___ d) Half of all the materials collected at the Flin Flon Recycling Centre is this material.
___e) The plastic that shampoo bottles and milk jugs are made of
___ f)The industry funded organization that pays for electronics recycling.
___ g)  Materials that must be disposed of carefully to prevent great harm to the environment.
____ h) The plastic that drink bottles and strawberry clamshells are made of.
____ i) The industry funded organization that subsidizes household recycling.  
____ j ) the industry funded organization that provides free recycling bins for public spaces.

Answers:

1. 10 -   Printer’s Mix
2. 8 -  Mb Association of Regional Recyclers
3. 2 -  Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc.
4. 1 -  Old Corrugated Cardboard
5. 5 -  High density polyethylene
6. 3 – Electronic Products Recycling Association
7. 4 – Household Hazardous waste
8. 9 – Polyethylene terephthalate
9. 6 – Multi Material Stewardship of Mb.
10. 7 – Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association

Originally published Sept 13/17   The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It is finally going to happen.

The Recycling Centre has been working with the City of Flin Flon and an organization called Manitoba Product Care for two years to set up a collection depot for household hazardous waste.

Two sea cans were purchased and modified in Winnipeg and installed at the Flin Flon landfill beside the oil collection building.

We had hoped to open in June but the landfill permit needed to be changed first.
 
The grand opening will be on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 2 – 4 at the Flin Flon landfill.

Please note this depot is for household items only. Items from businesses or institutions will not be accepted.

What is hazardous waste? It is anything that has the danger symbols.  The symbols show a skull and cross bones (poisonous), flame (flammable), boney hand (corrosive) inside a stop sign or triangle shape.  

Common items include aerosol cans, paints, gasoline, flammable liquids, pesticides, fertilizers, cleaners and degreasers, glues, etc.

These items should definitely not go into the landfill or be dumped on the ground or down the drain. They are harmful. That is why they have those scary pictures.

Now there is a safe way to take care of them any time.

No tipping fee will be charge when only household hazardous waste is brought to the landfill as these materials are shipped to Miller Environmental in Winnipeg for safe disposal.

This is a great improvement for waste management in our community. Previously, hazardous materials were collected one afternoon in September at Centoba Park. 

The Recycling Centre will continue to collect fluorescent bulbs and paint cans.
​
Call the Recycling Centre at (204) 687-6169 if you have any questions. 

Originally published Sept 6/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The word curbside is understood in recycling circles as residential pickup service.

Early research showed that providing this service was the most effective way to significantly increase recycling rates.

In 2005 the Recycling Centre began curbside pickup in Flin Flon and Creighton.
Centre staff would drive the same route as the garbage truck each day and pick up any recyclables that were on the front curb. Materials were usually loose in bins which took more time than picking up bags.

People using the service were asked to pay of $30.00/year. This payment was on the honour system.  Around 100 residents paid the fee. 

Recycling rates increased. The highest tonnage in recycling history in our community is 2007 with 500 metric tons or tonnes recycled.

Curbside service ended in 2007 as it was did not cover costs and the program was short of money.

Recycling rates also dropped quickly over the next two years.

After a strong show of support from the community in 2009, the Recycling Centre Board decided to continue the recycling program. They were able to find better ways to pay the bills.

In 2010, a new model for curbside service was developed. Users paid for the service by buying one red bag. Recycling Centre staff picked up recyclables in Flin Flon and Creighton Wednesday mornings wherever there is a red bag on the front curb.

In 2014, Creighton changed one of their two weekly garbage pickups to recycling and no longer used the red bags.

The Red Bag program is still available Wednesday mornings in Flin Flon. It allows residents to save space at home and a trip to drop off recyclables.
​
More info is available at www.flinflonrecycling.org.

Originally published Aug 30/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Who pays to take care of all the waste 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.

Much of the materials in waste can be recycled. Hazardous things need to be kept out of the environment.  

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 recyclable or hazardous things to help pay for it.  

Every time a company sells recyclable products in Manitoba, it must pay the set fee for the item to a fund that helps municipalities with the ‘end of life’ costs. This includes tires, oil products, beverage containers, food and products with recyclable packaging, newspapers, electronics, fluorescent bulbs and hazardous materials.  This extra cost may show up on your bill as an enviro fee.

Where does that money go?

To the PRO’s – Producer Responsibility Organizations. These are non-profit organizations run by industry. The PRO’s use the money to cover recycling costs. Some is paid to municipalities. Some covers the shipping and handling fees of organizations like the Recycling Centre.

Some PRO names are like alphabet soup:  MMSM, CBCRA, EPRA, MARRC.  Other names like are more obvious like Mb Tire Stewardship. 

Last year the PRO’s paid the Recycling Centre more than $66,000.00 for household, tire, oil, hazardous waste and electronics recycling.

This money comes from industry who create the waste, not taxes. 
​
The PRO’s make recycling happen in Manitoba.
 

Originally published Aug 23/17 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.

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 list on the website at www.flinflonrecycling.org  or the pictures on the Flin Flon Recycling facebook page. A paper list is available at the Centre or you can email recycled@mymts.net or call 204 687 6169. 
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 only need to be removed from glass bottles and jars. Labels do not need to be removed.                                                                                       
   
5. Recycling makes a difference.

                

Originally published Aug 16/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

It has never been easier to recycle! 

Here are the basics.

1. Recyclables go in one recycling bin, garbage goes in the other. No sorting is required.  The only exceptions are shredded paper and household batteries. They should be in closed separate bags. These smaller bags can go in the bag of recyclables.
2. If it’s on the list it’s recyclable. If not, it’s garbage. A list is available on our website www.flinflonrecycling.org.  There are pictures on our facebook page: Flin Flon Recycling. If you are not sure, call the Recycling Centre at 204 687 6169, email recycled@mymts.net, or post a question on the facebook page.
3. Recyclables can be picked up at your home. 

Creighton and Denare Beach provide weekly curbside pickup service.  Tuesday is recycling day in Denare Beach. Creighton’s days are Thursday or Friday. Put recyclables in a clear bag beside the garbage bin.
 
Wednesday is Red bag curbside pickup in Flin Flon. One red bag must be purchased for $3.50 to pay for the service. Two more bags or boxes will be picked up. Check the website for a list of the streets served. Streets can be added by calling the Centre at 204 687 6169.  
 
Large cardboard boxes do not need to be in bags. They should be flattened and placed under the bags.
 
       4.      Recyclables can be left at the Centre at 9 Timber Lane or in the green trailer                               parked between Canadian Tire and Walmart. All recyclables should be in closed                     bags or  boxes. Loose materials should be placed in the blue bins at the Recycling                      Centre.

Recycling saves energy, resources and landfill space and costs.

The little extra effort is worth it. 

Originally published Aug 9/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.  Guest post by summer student Parker Mathews. 

I remember my job interview with Deb, asking me what I knew about recycling. All I knew were the 3 R’s Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. What I have learned about recycling is amazing; from fluorescent light bulbs and hazardous material to beer bottles and beer cans.
 
Fluorescent light bulbs have mercury vapors inside the bulbs, mercury is toxic and needs to be put in an airtight box and shipped out where certain business take CFL’s and crush them in an airtight crusher.
 
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is uncommon, it accounts for small portion of the recycling we get at the Recycling Center.
 
The HHW is sent to a seacan in the landfill where we sort and organize the HHW into categories depending on the hazard symbol; flammable, toxic, corrosive etc. All categories are packaged differently and put into a drum or crate and then shipped.
 
Beer bottles and beer cans come through the Recycling Center all year round. We can return all non-Saskatchewan Canadian beer cans and bottles for refunds. Beer cans are packaged into bags of 144 cans, the beer bottles get categorized into boxes of domestic which is your average beer; Miller, Bud-light, budweiser etc. or the specific brand. We take these bottles and cans back for a refund of 10¢ per can or bottle.
 
 We have made $5,246.70 in beer container refunds, accounting for 35% of sales in 2017
 
This is hardly half of what I have learned here. Working at the Recycling Center has opened my eyes to the importance of recycling and how we impact the environment. It has been a great experience.
 
I am grateful for the opportunity to work here.

Originally published Aug 2/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
 Guest post by summer student Parker Mathews. 

The Recycling Center is having a Recycled Back to School Supplies event. It is an opportunity for the community to come down and pick up any unused school supplies that has been amassed over the years. We are setting up a table at the Flin Flon Public Library, you can come down and help yourself to the school supplies we have.
 
We have all sorts of supplies that you can pick up; binder, notebooks, duotangs, divider, paper and much more. The amount of supplies the Recycling Center receives at the end of every school year every is astonishing to me.
 
Most of it is unused.
 
According to the Consolidated Credit survey families in Manitoba spend close to $119 per child each year on school supplies and a whopping $1,182 dollars total from preschool to grade 12. By reusing school supplies you can cut the cost of buying school supplies by at least half.
 
It just goes to show that by reusing school supplies not only are you making a difference for the environment and the community but it is also saving you a considerable amount money. Reusing any household items or anything partially used will help reduce expenses and lower the amount of waste we create.
 
Here is a fun fact about how much we waste every year.
 
In the U.S they manufacture around 15-20 billion pencils each year cutting down 60,000 trees. An estimate of 2 billion of these pencils are thrown away each year, that is around 8000 trees that are destroyed for no reason.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the Flin Flon Public Library August 12, from 1-3:30.
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Originally published July 26/17  The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

I recently received the summary of a research paper by Reegan Lawrence, a University of Manitoba student. The paper is titled The Green Economy: Manitoba’s Waste and Recycling Sector.

I found this quite interesting. People and businesses are recognizing that things need to change to reduce damage to the environment.  On the other hand, many believe that being good to the environment is bad for the economy.

The study looked at municipalities, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations like the Flin Flon and District Environment Council, Inc. which runs the local recycling program and the private businesses. The private businesses included e-waste processing, consulting, education and awareness, producer responsible organizations which provide financing to encourage recycling,  tire recyclers, manufacturers,  composters, construction and demolition, scrap metal dealers, haulers/transporters, multi-service facilities, Materials recovery facilities like the Flin Flon Recycling Centre, and reuse/refurbish operations.

That is quite a list.

The study used results of a survey and information from a variety of sources to calculate the economic impact of handling waste differently. It estimates there is an equivalent of 4,443 full time employees contributing an estimated $184,537,783.50 to the Manitoba economy.

Locally the Recycling Centre employs five full time and one part time person. There are four more positions at the landfill. Our wages are not as high as the ones used in the study, but our payroll in 2016 was just over $250,000.00.

The increase in businesses and organizations doing things like recycling shows a new way of thinking called corporate social responsibility. It means they consider the environment and the larger community as well as making money when making decisions. 
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This study shows that the new way of thinking is good for the economy. 

Originally published July 19/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The Recycling Centre receives a large amount of recyclables every year at the end of school. Our summer student has been working through it. I am always amazed at the amount of unused notebooks and other usable items that we receive.

It reminds me of the down side of recycling.

People may be more likely to get rid of things that are perfectly fine or a little used because it is being recycled and not just going to the landfill.

Recycling is the third R of being environmentally responsible. Reduce, reuse and recycle are in order of priority for making the most difference.

Everything we have comes from the Earth. To really make a difference, we need to use less (reduce) and reuse what we can. Recycling is last on the list.

It takes a decision to think differently about how we use stuff.

I know children like to have new things each fall for school. They can be encouraged to be kind to the earth by using old but still usable notebooks, binders, and pencil cases again. Subject titles written on notebook covers can be covered with label stickers and relabeled.

The good feelings from having new stuff can be replaced by good feelings about making a difference for the environment.

Adults can set the example by continuing to use little things like household items or big things like boats or campers which still work even though they may be older.

A fourth ‘R’ can be added: Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink.

The Recycling Centre is planning a ‘School Supplies Reuse Event’ in August. Everyone is invited help themselves to the school supplies we have collected.
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Watch for more information. 

Originally published July 12/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

​Many dream of travelling in a spaceship.  A few have experienced it. Projects are underway that would make public space travel a reality if you have lots of money.

A spaceship is a closed vehicle that travels through space. It must have systems to provide air, food and water, waste management and temperature control so the crew can survive.

Each person on the space ship must follow all the rules to ensure the systems continue to work for everyone. If one person eats too much food or puts waste in the wrong place the results could be disastrous for everyone.

In reality, we all are traveling on a space ship. The earth is a closed vehicle traveling around the sun. Aside from the energy from the sun, the Earth is the only source of what we need to survive.

 It has complex systems that provide us with the food, water, air and climate we need to live.

Everything we do has an impact on the earth. We take the materials for everything we have from the earth. We need to be careful so our actions do not destroy these life support systems.

Laws to protect the environment have been made which has reduced or prevented damage.  However, as scientists learn more it is clear these life support systems are being strained by human activity.

Everyone needs to form habits that reduce our harm to the environment.

Recycling uses less energy and resources than making things from scratch.

We need to make do with what we have and reuse what we can.
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Reducing or using less is the most important thing to do to protect the life support systems on our spaceship.  

Originally published July 5/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

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.  Was 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 last 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) Gift Wrap. Some may be recyclable but it is impossible to sort recyclable from non-recyclable.
 
3. Both. Total tonnage in 2016 was down 18 tonnes but comingled materials were up 11 tonnes.  More homes are recycling. Fewer materials are coming from businesses. 2017 will be a different story. 

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

5. Aluminium can

6. Denare Beach. Curbside pickup began 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.
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10. False. Very little sorting happens in Flin Flon. Most recyclables are sorted in Winnipeg. 

Originally published June 28/17 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

The end of school has arrived. It is an exciting time for children. It also means there are lots of school things to clean up and put away.

When cleaning up after school remember that reusing is more important for the environment than recycling.  The most environmentally friendly thing families can do is save binders, pens, pencils, unused paper, etc. and reuse them next year.  

Kids are great recyclers, so the Recycling Centre receives more than usual from the schools at this time of year.  Most of it can be recycled. There are a variety of things that come to the Centre that cannot be recycled.

What can be recycled?

Loose leaf paper, white or coloured office paper (the paper used in photocopiers for worksheets etc.) is the most common item.  Notebooks can be recycled. Taking the covers off is helpful. Paper tang folders, file folders, paper dividers, books, beverage containers and boxes are recyclable. Poster board is recyclable if it doesn’t have other things stuck to it.

The following items are not recyclable: 3 ring binders, construction paper, laminated paper, art projects with different kinds of collage materials and anything plastic like report covers, tang folders, page protectors. Food wrappers, Kleenex, paper towels, plastic bags, things to write with like pencils, markers etc., pencil cases, and glue sticks are not recyclable.

Did you know that recycling one metric ton (tonne) of paper save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3.5 cubic metres of landfill space?
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School children often lead families to recycle. That makes sense as recycling goes a long way to making sure we leave a good world for our children.