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.