Duane Hicks
Maybe it’s the fact some residents haven’t had “blue box” curbside pick-up since before Christmas, but the new recycling bins on Sixth Street West have seen a flurry of deposits since opening last week.
But this has meant that the bins are having to be emptied far more frequently than anticipated, with Operations and Facilities Doug Brown reminding the public they can hold onto their recyclables for their usual curbside pick-up if they are able.
“We have a contract with Asselin Transportation to pick up curbside recycling, co-mingled, any volume,” he noted.
“What I am asking the public is if they have the ability to store recycling and get it picked up at the curbside, I’d appreciate that you keep doing that.
“We want you to recycle, but if you do that method, it’s a fixed cost to the town,” Brown explained. “That means [the town pays] so much to Asselin’s each month.
“It doesn’t matter how much volume you put at the curbside, we’ll pick it up,” he stressed.
Brown said the four eight-cubic yard bins behind the Public Works building have been filling up each and every day, adding he can’t get through an eight-hour shift without having them emptied into the recycling storage area.
“We want you to drop off recycling. It’s there for you when you go on holidays or are going to be out of town on your [pick-up] day,” he explained.
“But I am not getting through the weekend. On Saturday, I had a guy come in for a four-hour call to empty the depot; then on Sunday, I had to do the same thing.
“I don’t know if it’s the Christmas rush . . . but please make an effort to put your recycling out at the curbside,” Brown urged. “The drop-off depot is there if you’re not going to be available for your curbside pick-up day.
“We don’t want to discourage recycling, just do it in a cost-effective manner.”
The recycling bins are one strategy in a long-term recycling plan, each of which has a cost associated with it.
“We’re finding out right early in the year, the first weekend of the year, that it’s cost us money,” Brown remarked.
Mayor Roy Avis noted that maybe it would be better for people to use the depot on weekdays because if the bins get full on weekends, town staff have to be called in on overtime.
The recyclables acceptable at the depot are the same as those
allowed in your “blue box” for curbside pick-up.
These materials include:
•Paper—Christmas wrap, paper bags, newsprint and flyers, junk mail, office paper, magazines, cardboard egg cartons, paper tubes, flattened box board, milk cartons, juice cartons, corrugated cardboard, and pop and beer cases;
•Metal—aluminum/steel beverage cans and metal food cans (rinsed); and
•Plastics—#1-#7.
Brown said those dropping off cardboard boxes are urged to break down the boxes beforehand so they don’t take up so much space in the bins.
Meanwhile, those wanting to recycle glass still must bring it to the glass recycling bin located just around the corner at 900 Wright Ave.
As well, Brown again warned the public not to drop off garbage at the depot—it is strictly for “blue box” materials only.
In related news, anyone who has not yet received a 2011-12 refuse collection schedule in their mailbox should contact the Civic Centre (274-5323) or Public Works (274-9893), or pick one up at the Civic Centre or Public Works building.
