Submitted by Dave Ebel and Jacqui Wakefield, on behalf of the MNBP Waste Management and Diversion Group
Early each year, our Municipality receives the previous year’s waste and recycling information from Waste Management Canada. This information reflects both Monday curbside pick-ups and containers at the landfill sites. Our rates of recycling remain steady at around 35%. However, the overall amounts of both recycling and waste continue to increase – moving us in the wrong direction!
The graph shows the tonnes for waste and recycling in 2020 and 2021, with an increase of 6.4% in waste and 8.2% increase in recyclables.
These numbers continue the trend seen over the last 5 years, with waste up 13.3% and recyclables up 8.3%. Troubling!
Although these increases may appear to be relatively small, keep in mind that the capacities of our landfill sites are finite. The St. Edmunds site is close to capacity but does accept some waste because most of the curbside waste from the Tobermory area is taken to the Lindsay or Eastnor sites
Below are some materials that put stress on the landfills, and some take a very long time to decompose. Fortunately, those in green at the bottom of the list are recyclable!
• Cigarette butts – 10-12 years;
• Monofilament fishing line – 600 years;
• Leather shoes – 25-40 years;
• Rubber boots – soles – 50-80 years;
• Plywood – 3 years;
• Cotton Gloves – 3 months;
• Plastic and Styrofoam – It does not biodegrade;
• Nylon Fabric- 30-40 years;
• Ropes – 3-14 months;
• Wool Clothing – 1-5 years;
• Lumber – 10-15 years;
• Aluminum cans – 200-250 years;
• Milk Cartons – 5 years;
• Cardboard – 2 months;
• Tin can – 50 years;
• Clean plastics (numbered 1 to 5 and 7) – It does not biodegrade.
The 3 R’s: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse
Now is the time for each household to review The 3 R’s: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. Did you know that the Municipality now collects clean white polystyrenes (used as packing material for small and large appliances and electronics) at the landfill – to be compacted and recycled?
The Municipality is recording more stops for roadside pickups year-round, perhaps reflecting more full-time residents living here. For our new neighbours, remember that weekly waste and recycle pickup is on every Monday including most holidays (only Christmas and New Year are excluded if they happen to fall on Monday). Your material should be at the roadside for pickup by 8:00 am. If you do not have a Blue Box for recycling, boxes are available at each of the Landfill sites and the Municipal Office. Every household is entitled to one free box and extras are available at a modest cost of $9.00.
If you have not tried composting kitchen and yard waste, a variety of composters are available at local hardware stores. Composting helps to keep organics out of the landfills, reducing our contribution to climate change, and the composted material is great for our gardens.
As the 2022 year unfolds, let’s try together to reverse this negative trend by keeping in mind “Reduce first. Then Reuse and Recycle”
If you encounter a problem with your Monday morning pickup, please contact Waste Management at 1-888-730-3344, Extension 1.
Please note that the 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Days will be (1) July 23 from 8:00-12:00 at the Eastnor Landfill Site and (2) August 6 from 8:00-12:00 at the St. Edmunds Landfill Site. What if you cannot make one of these days? All residents of Northern Bruce Peninsula can visit any Hazardous Waste Event Day in Bruce County. Details of all locations, dates and hours are posted on the municipality’s website.
