Curbside recycling keeps Regina’s 2015 waste reduction goal on track

Curbside recycling keeps Regina’s 2015 waste reduction goal on track

Aug 13, 2014 (Global News) – It’s been just over a year since curbside recycling was implemented in Regina, and though the program has been well received, city crews say there’s still more residents can do to help keep recyclables out of the dump.

In the first 12 months of the blue bin program, 10,806 tonnes of recyclables have been kept out of the landfill.

Waste services manager with the City of Regina, Roberta Engel, said Wednesday they are at an 18 per cent diversion rate which is well on the way to the 2015 goal of diverting 40 per cent of household waste to the dump site.

“We’re easily keeping up with the demand on the collection and processing side, but the city would really like to encourage residents to recycle more.”

Engel added 12 per cent of what residents put into the blue pins is contaminated, meaning 15,000 tonnes of recyclables are still entering the landfill.

Further, residents are recycling items that can be recycled but are not part of the blue bin program.

“Clothes and small children’s toys sometimes do get put through the process and they do end up in the residue, which does end up in the landfill,” said Engel.

Leaf and yard waste, as well as hazardous materials, are part of the contamination rate so city officials are asking residents to hold on to things like old oil and electronics to be properly disposed of at the biannual waste round up days.

The next event will be held on October 4th.

For more information on the recycling program, or what you can or cannot put in your blue bins, visit the city’s website: regina.ca

Global News source article