North Bay Blue Box Program celebrating 20 years of service

It was a quiet night in the North Bay City Hall council chambers after federal election night. The regular meeting of council was rescheduled to Tuesday night due to the elections. Photo by Devin Size

The North Bay Blue Box Program committee will be holding a celebration event to be held at the North Bay Recycling Centre at 112 Patton Street. The occasion is 20 years in servicing North Bay’s recycling needs, diverting waste away from the land fill that can be recycled and reused.

The program started in 1991 with a very small concept of recycling small items such as cardboard, cans, and various small plastics, but has now expanded to everything possible, including all five levels of plastic recyclables. Throughout their two decades of green initiatives, the program has managed to divert approximately 51,000 tons (5 million garbage bags) of replaced waste materials away from the local land fill. Vice Chair of the program committee, David Briggs, says that he feels this is a great time for a toast to those involved, including the recycling community.

“Since then (1991) the program has seen many expansions,” explains Briggs, “from juice boxes to tin foil, and just recently even margarine containers and all levels of plastics. It’s a cause for celebration that we’ve been able to divert so much from the land fill, and basically we’re seeing the lifespan of that landfill expanded by decades.”

The celebration will take place at the NBRC on Patton St Sat. May 14, between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon. The day includes a tour of the facility and treats for those with a sweet tooth. The Hazardous Waste Depot is involved in this event as well, and is holding a draw for a backyard composter. To enter the draw, people are encouraged to bring an item to be recycled by the HWD and will receive a ballot for their item.

“This is a milestone for the city and I think we should celebrate it.”

Councilor MacBain raised the concern of apathy amongst a certain percentage of the population towards recycling. He asked if the committee was ponderings efforts to raise awareness for recycling in the city, as well as maybe canvas houses to make sure each has a blue box and knows their recycling dates and acceptable materials.

---

Housing units in the Birchhaven area will be undergoing changes, as they have been approved for sale to the Turret Construction & Housing Co. Inc. The townhouses to be sold are more than 60 on Madelena Drive and Lake Heights Road, and more than 90 on Sylvan Crescent.

In correspondence with the Landlord and Tenant Act of Ontario, no current occupants will be evicted from their homes or forced to move. Councilor Vrebosch-Merry explains that this is an opportunity for actual affordable home ownership.

“This gives people living in low-income situations a real chance at affordable housing and home ownership. This is a very good thing, and these buildings will be restored for the market and the people currently living there.”

---

Another decision resulted from Monday night’s election. Deputy Mayor Chirico put forward a motion to have a Professional Activity day suggested to the Minister of Education for the province of Ontario. On set federal election dates, Chirico sees a need to replace an existing PA day, and use it to have the kids out of school during elections.

This is a safety concern for the children, as multiple vehicles and pedestrians are flooding the schools as they are designating polling stations during ballot casting time.

“I think it only makes sense, and it will alleviate many costs and problems in the future,” says Chirico. “With enough notice, I believe they have the ability to reschedule one of their many PA days.”