Recycling up again in 2006

FORT FRANCES—While not as great a leap as between 2004 and 2005, the amount of material Fort Frances residents are recycling increased again in 2006, according to a report to town council from Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown on Monday night.
The report shows that in 2006, residents saw a total of 379.97 tonnes of non-glass materials picked up curbside.
This equals a 15.24 percent diversion rate based on 2,682.86 tonnes of residential waste being disposed in the landfill site last year.
The residential waste diversion rate was 13.47 percent in 2005. This is based on 2,749 tonnes of total residential waste being disposed at the landfill site that year.
“The amount of waste going to the landfill site went down 66 tonnes and that has an influence on the diversion rate,” Brown explained in an interview Tuesday.
In related news, 34.24 tonnes of glass products were dropped off at the Wright Avenue depot last year and stockpiled at the landfill site.
A load of 31.5 tonnes of glass from 2005 was taken away to Nexcycle, a glass manufacturing plant in Aberfoyle, Ont., during the summer.
As well, 176.04 tonnes in scrap steel and 205.38 tonnes of used tires were removed from the local landfill site last year.
The annual recycling report is a requirement under Ontario Regulation 101/94 (Recycling and Composting of Municipal Waste), and must be compiled and filed with the province each year.
This year, it must be submitted by June 1.
Brown noted the town is meeting—and is some cases exceeding—the other provincial requirements under Ontario Regulation 101/94.
For instance, there is no requirement for curbside collection of blue box waste and the town could utilize a depot system if it so chose.
But presently, the town provides bi-weekly curbside collection to residential properties and is providing recycling services at a higher-than-required level.
The town currently is meeting the requirements as to which materials it accepts in blue boxes, added Brown.
And the town continues to provide home composters to residents at cost or less ($40), as well as information regarding—and encouraging—recycling and composting.
Last year, 10 backyard composters were sold.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•approved a report directing that Bylaw 10/03 be amended to create a “no parking” area along First Street East (at the central entrance to Shevlin Towers), and that the “no parking” signs at the apartment complex’s other two entrances be removed.
This is to facilitate unencumbered access for emergency personnel. A bylaw will be prepared for council approval at a future meeting;
•approved a report to transfer the library and museum trust funds to reserve funds;
•approved a report to move funds from the revenue fund (general operating) to the 2006 capital fund for capital expenditures in the amount of $71,067.45 (this is to balance capital fund for the 2006 budget year);
•approved a purchase card entertainment expense claim in the amount of $123.79 and a travel expense claim in the amount of $285 for CAO Mark McCaig;
•approved travel expense and per diem claims for Mayor Roy Avis in the amount of $3,371.15;
•approved travel expense and per diem claims for Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft in the amount of $1,608.04;
•approved travel expense and per diem claims for Coun. Paul Ryan in the amount of $1,608.04;
•approved a report requesting the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office for technical support and advice in developing a master fire and rescue plan for the Town of Fort Frances;
•passed a bylaw to approve an agreement with DataFix for web hosting services for purposes of Municipal VoterView;
•passed a bylaw to approve a contract awarded to JTJ Contracting (Emo) Ltd. for modification to the Portage Avenue underpass (Tender No. 06-OF-14); and
•passed a bylaw to amend Bylaw No. 66/90 (the motorized snow vehicle bylaw).
These amendments include deleting a section where it says the police chief must proclaim the beginning of the snowmobile season, and changing the names of the pubic and separate school boards to their current versions.