The City of Wrenford is asking residents to help reduce recycling contamination in their blue carts. Right now, about 14 per cent of what goes into the blue bin does not belong there. That number needs to drop to 5 per cent to meet provincial standards.
Keeping contamination low is important for everyone. When the wrong items are mixed in with recyclables, they can tangle up sorting machinery and slow down the entire facility. If contamination rates stay too high, the City will face financial penalties under the provincial Blue Box programme. Those extra costs would eventually be passed on to residents through higher waste fees.
“We know residents care about doing a good job sorting their recycling,” says Ben Achterberg, Waste Programs Supervisor. “Simple habits at home, like keeping recyclables loose in the cart and rinsing out food containers, make a huge difference for the whole system.”
Here are the most common items causing problems:
- Plastic bags and wrappers: Chip bags, frozen food bags, and plastic wrap cannot be recycled in the blue cart. Take these to the East Wrenford Waste Management Facility or the Northgate Drop-off Depot.
- Foam packaging: Expanded polystyrene cups and packing peanuts belong in the black cart for garbage.
- Glass bottles and jars: Glass does not go in the blue bin. Bring it to a local depot for separate recycling.
- Food-soiled paper: Napkins, paper towels, and greasy pizza boxes must go in the green bin or the black cart.
To keep your blue bin running smoothly, rinse out containers, let them dry, and place them loose in the cart. Never bag your recyclables.
For a complete list of accepted items, visit the Blue bin and recycling collection page. You can also use the Waste wizard and disposal guide tool online to quickly check how to sort any household item. If you have questions, call 519-555-0100 or email [email protected].
