"We as a community can do better," declared Coun. Mac Bain as he spoke at length about the habits of North Bayites when it comes to garbage and recycling at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.
In a discussion related to a report about a certificate of approval for the Merrick Landfill, Bain elaborated on the merits and downfalls of the recycling program in North Bay.
Bain lauded the garbage and recycling contract with Miller Waste, saying it is "the envy of a lot of communities around Ontario at the rate we are receiving." Bain added that the hope was that 100 per cent of the cost of the program would be borne by industry stewards when the next agreement is reached in three-and-a-half years. Bain indicated the current 50 per cent burden on the residential tax base would be removed if those goals are met.
Beer and liquor bottles placed in blue boxes cannot be redeemed, and in fact cost the City money to handle, reminded Bain. Individual coffee K-Cup pods also cannot be recycled, and even the cups marketed as "compostable," are only recycled in one community.
Neither Tim Hortons cups, named in particular by Bain nor any take out drink container should be put out in the recycling box. "They do get collected, but it deteriorates the recycled product. I would ask the public not to do that."
Unsure what is and is not recyclable? Click through for the City's designated garbage and recycling collection information website. An app for mobile devices is available at the bottom of the page.
Another issue is citizens who throw clothing out in the garbage. "There are lots of different charities that you have the opportunity to bring clothes to," continued Bain, who went on to name the Salvation Army and Rebuilt Resources as two such locales that accept clothing donations.
"Operation Clothesline, through the Canadian Diabetic Association, will recycle every single stitch of clothing that you possibly have. An old t-shirt that has holes that you think has no value, you throw it in the garbage, it gets wet because it rained that day, it adds tonnage and a cost to the community when it's collected.
"We reduce our tonnage, we effectively expand the life cycle of our landfill, and therefore, in future years, we don't have to go out and look for a new landfill, which is going to be a costly endeavour. Approximately, now, we have 20 years life, and everything we can do as a community to extend that life saves the taxpayers money."
