SWRC Update: Fall Workshops

SWRC Update: Fall Workshops

SWRC’s Fall Workshops are one-day events held around the province, this year in Weyburn, Prince Albert, Kindersley and Humboldt. The day started with an update on global recycling markets, focusing primarily on the effects of new Chinese import restrictions. Thanks to Cory Shaw from Crown Shred (Weyburn and Prince Albert workshops) and Recycling and Dale Schmidt from Loraas Recycling (Kindersley and Humboldt workshops) for giving us the big picture. Attendees then shared their experiences with for hard to recycle materials. Items discussed included shingles, large appliances (ozone depleting substances), mattresses, child car seats, tires, grain bags and styrofoam.

 

The Ministry of Environment provided the rules on landfills and composting operations. They plan to prepare more information about composting rules in the future and suggest using Alberta’s guidelines in the meantime. SWANA outlined the costs of running and closing landfills and provided examples of different types of transfer stations. Kelly Goyer from Multi-Material Stewardship Western reviewed the changes to the fees that his program will be paying to municipalities for the next two years.

 

Attendees also heard from local programs: a snapshot of Weyburn’s new landfill cell; the story of the Western Regional Landfill (Kindersley); a look at P.A.’s innovative re-use of broken garbage and recycling bins by turning them into backyard composting bins; and the light at the end of the tunnel for REACT in Humboldt after struggling with flooding for years, their new landfill is scheduled to open soon.

 

About 145 people attended the workshops. Thanks to Multi-Material Stewardship Western and SWANA Northern Lights for sponsoring this year’s events. The presentations are available online here