What people should know about new recycling program

After attending the February Plastics Recycling Conference in Nashville, Tenn. and presenting at this month’s “The China Market” workshop in Edmonton, here is what Lethbridge citizens should know about the ramifications of our soonto-be-implemented “Single Stream Recycling Program.”

1. There are no single stream material recovery facilities in Canada that can meet the Chinese requirement of 99.5 per cent contaminates-free recycled product — that is for cardboard, newsprint, plastics or whatever.

2. Recyclables are sitting on the ground or in warehouses throughout North America with no place to go.

3. Other countries will take the cardboard, paper, plastics, etc. but will not pay for them — thus there are no dollars to sustain the Material Recovery Facility.

4. Lethbridge home owners have already been told that glass and plastic bags cannot be put in the new blue bin and must be taken to the drop depots.

5. We will know shortly what other recyclables will not be allowed in the blue bin during the Pilot - Phase 1 Program.

6. The market for plastics is in the negative arena — currently costing at least $200/tonne to have a company use it for products or in a waste-toenergy facility. Cardboard and paper are moving in the same direction.

7. Very little good corrugated cardboard will end up in the blue bin as most of it is box board (which is worthless) and all the larger good boxes must be taken to the drop depot.

I think the mayor and council need to have a hard look at the timing of the new $14-million Material Recycling Facility and how much of our recyclables will be processed only to be sent to the landfill.

Grant R. Harrington

Past President, Recycling Council of Alberta Lethbridge