Greenwood Recycling Centre wins major award
Displayed prominently at the Greenwood Recycling Centre is a trophy created from recycled material by artist Al Hattie.
Greenwood Recycling was the 2021 winner of the Large Enviro-Depot of the Year award, presented by Divert NS.
Licia Wack has operated Greenwood Recycling for the past 25 years. She dedicated the award to her staff members for their hard work and passion in serving the community.
“I also want to thank our customers for their kind words and nominations and for supporting a local small business,” Wack says.
Nova Scotians are conscientious recyclers. According to Divert NS, the not-for-profit that administers the province’s waste diversion programs, the return rate for beverage containers in the province is 83 per cent. That’s among the highest in Canada. In addition to creating jobs and supporting the local economy, recycling diverts waste products that could otherwise end up in landfills.
Consumers often have questions about the recycling process – specifically questions about rules and steps they can take to make life easier for staff. Wack offers a number of suggestions:
• Do not crush cans: The
UPC code needs to be visible on all cans in the event the recycling centre is audited. “We are subject to random audits on a regular basis with repercussions,” Wack points out.
• It is not necessary to count bottles and cans: “We would actually prefer if they are not counted,” Wack says. “We don’t encourage it, but if you do want to count your refundables we can provide a list of requirements.”
• If bottles are totally empty, caps can now stay on: It speeds the process and saves sorting if customers separate cans from plastic, put everything else in a miscellaneous bag, while keeping beer containers in their box.
• Products that are not accepted include milk, soy and rice beverage containers, baby food containers and containers from outside of Nova Scotia.
You can always donate your
refund towards organizations that Greenwood Recycling supports, including the local food bank and Camp Brigadoon. End-of-life electronic items can also be dropped off at Greenwood Recycling. Electronics are filled with resources – including glass, plastic, and minerals – that need to be recovered and recycled so they do not end up in landfills. This includes items such as computers, accessories and parts, TVs, cameras,
game boxes and phones. Not currently in the program are household appliances, sewing machines, drills, coffee makers and toasters.
“We also accept household paint that does not have a poisonous or dangerous stamp,” Wack points out. “This is for paint only – no brushes, pool chemicals or other household hazardous waste.”
Greenwood Recycling also collects pop-tabs for the Kinsmen’s Tabs for Wheelchairs program, eyeglasses for the Lions Club, and textiles, with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research Atlantic Canada. In addition to gently used clothing, people can donate blankets, towels, shoes, boots and drapes.
“Our pink bins are located inside to keep your generous clothing donations free from dampness,” Wack adds. “One piece of damp clothing that freezes can contaminate a whole load.”