Originally published Sept 11/19 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.
A variety of things happen in the back room at the Recycling Centre. We call it the paper room as the office paper from businesses and schools is separated and sold.
It is also the room of the four B’s – batteries, bulbs, books and beer.
The battery packing box sits in a shopping cart. The batteries found in household recycling are placed in the cart where they are sorted into the box for shipping.
Transportation regulations require separate packaging for lithium and small sealed lead acid batteries to reduce fire hazard. Each one must be placed in a plastic bag that is supplied with the boxes. Button batteries are lithium. A number of them are placed on a piece of tape and covered with another piece for shipping.
Fluorescent bulbs are packaged in cardboard boxes lined with heavy plastic bags for shipping. These bulbs contain mercury oxide which is very toxic. The tube bulbs are placed in four foot or eight foot boxes. The smaller CFL bulbs are shipped in a three foot cube box. The bags are tied and taped shut when they are full. The boxes are sealed with tape on both ends for shipping.
Books are packed into large vegetable boxes from the grocery stores. They are arranged so as many books as possible fit in the box.
Finally, the large bags of beer cans separated from the household recycling are moved to the back room where they are counted into bags of 144 cans so they can be returned for the ten cent deposit.
In 2019 we have shipped 691 kilograms of batteries, 40 boxes of bulbs, and 12 boxes of books.
A variety of things happen in the back room at the Recycling Centre. We call it the paper room as the office paper from businesses and schools is separated and sold.
It is also the room of the four B’s – batteries, bulbs, books and beer.
The battery packing box sits in a shopping cart. The batteries found in household recycling are placed in the cart where they are sorted into the box for shipping.
Transportation regulations require separate packaging for lithium and small sealed lead acid batteries to reduce fire hazard. Each one must be placed in a plastic bag that is supplied with the boxes. Button batteries are lithium. A number of them are placed on a piece of tape and covered with another piece for shipping.
Fluorescent bulbs are packaged in cardboard boxes lined with heavy plastic bags for shipping. These bulbs contain mercury oxide which is very toxic. The tube bulbs are placed in four foot or eight foot boxes. The smaller CFL bulbs are shipped in a three foot cube box. The bags are tied and taped shut when they are full. The boxes are sealed with tape on both ends for shipping.
Books are packed into large vegetable boxes from the grocery stores. They are arranged so as many books as possible fit in the box.
Finally, the large bags of beer cans separated from the household recycling are moved to the back room where they are counted into bags of 144 cans so they can be returned for the ten cent deposit.
In 2019 we have shipped 691 kilograms of batteries, 40 boxes of bulbs, and 12 boxes of books.
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