More of BlueBoxMore.ca
Sorry to revisit this topic so soon after my first post about it, but today was garbage day and a few things REALLY hit home for me!
Before taking out the garbage and recycling I made sure to revisit Bluebox.ca (as mentioned in my recent post this is a website for residents of Ontario, providing info re: what is and is not recyclable in your area). I wanted to make sure I was 100% on-the-ball in terms of what was allowed to be in my blue box.
Reviewing the extensive list of recyclable items for Waterloo Region was once again a serious wake up call me – it suddenly dawned on me how important proper education is when it comes to waste management (and environmental responsibility in general). The fact is if I am fairly clueless regarding what all can be recycled, there must be countless others who really have no idea.
Here by the way is the list of items that are/are not recyclable in my region:
CAN Recycle
- Newspapers, magazines and catalogues
- Household papers (eg. letters, envelopes and bulk mailings)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Aluminum cans
- Steel cans
- PET (lightweight clear plastic, typically used in pop and water bottles)
- Corrugated containers
- Boxboard cartons (eg. cereal, tissue and detergent boxes)
- Gable top containers (eg. juice, broth and wine boxes)
- Aluminum foil
- Empty aerosol cans
- Empty paint cans
- HDPE plastic (eg. heavier, often coloured bottles used for shampoo, detergent and cleaning products)
- Other bottles
- Plastic film (eg. grocery or shopping bags)
- Tubs and lids (eg. containers for spreads, yogurt, cottage cheese)
- Styrofoam containers (foam containers like coffee cups or egg cartons)
- Clear polystyrene (Clear bakery clam-shells)
CAN’T Recycle
- Glass (drinking glasses, dishes, crystal, window glass, light bulbs)
I’m still blown away by just how much can in fact be recycled! Ignorance may be “bliss” for some, but I have to admit I’m feeling pretty embarassed about my lack of knowledge in this area.
Needless to say, I’m very glad the province decided to step up and put together this resource. Hopefully it helps many others divert a good chunk of their household waste to the recycling plant!
The big question of the day – do YOU know exactly what can and cannot be recycled in your region?
Once again here is my first post about Blueboxmore.ca: Blueboxmore.ca – Great Site For Recycling in Ontario
Technorati Tags: recycling, waterloo region, blueboxmore.ca, blue box, waste management, recycle, ontario
Written by Bentley on November 8th, 2006 with
2 comments.
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#1. November 22nd, 2006, at 5:52 PM.
Hello Bently;
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have contacted my local government. I have been told that there is no demand for the items in our area, the coloured ink cannot be recycled, the oil in certain plastic tubs causes problems, etc. etc. The reasons one gets are infinite. This I have learned though, certain types of paper are problem & are not wanted; coloured glass bottles are not recyled, but go to the landfill; juice, milk, etc, cartons end up in the landfill. It appears to me that 50% of the material supposedly recycled, ends up in the landfill. I would suggest you contact your region as to how much is actually recyled. I hope it is more than I believe. We the people of Ontario are paying a great price for recyling that is not being done. Until the Ontario Government insists that producers re-use the materials they use for packaging, recycling is nothing but a farce. The new program for liquor & wine bottles in another farce. Coloured bottles will end up in the landfill and the others will also. No liquor company wants used bottles as th cost to sterilize is too high & they don’t want a bottle that could look used. This is another way to tax the people for nothing.