Our guest speaker 13 January was Mark Kinsley Supervisor of the City of Winnipeg Waste Diversion. Nancy Morris introduced Mark with the following information;
2004: Graduated from Red River College from the Environmental Protection Technology program
2007 – 2009: City of Winnipeg landfill environmental monitoring
2009 – Present: City of Winnipeg Waste Diversion and Recycling Administration. Currently the Supervisor of Waste Diversion.
Mark advised that there have been a lot of changes in the area of recycling over the past few years. The process of recycling is actually very complicated. The City of Winnipeg had 34 landfill locations in the past. Now there is only ONE location open – Brady landfill. The goal is to try to direct all material away from the landfill where it is just buried, but rather to use the materials again in some other product.
The ads that are produced for the City recycling program tend to be rather simplistic in order to not complicate the matter any more than it already is for some in the community. The most important information to have is what is able to be recycled in your municipality / town. This may vary greatly from one area to another due to the capabilities of the recycling plant.
In Winnipeg the material to place in the Blue Bins include newspaper, cardboard, cans, plastic containers (no hazardous symbols on label). The containers should be clean.
China used to take 70% of North America’s waste for recycling. They were finding that a lot of the material being sent over was not acceptable for any kind of recycling. China has since stopped taking the raw recycling materials from North America.
Winnipeg recycling does not take-
- Black plastic, Coffee cups, Diapers, Styrofoam, Coffee pods, Aluminum pie plates, Stand-up pouches, Plastic bags.
There is confusion over the Mobius Loop symbol with the small number in the middle. People think that if they see that symbol that the product packaging is recyclable. This is not true. This just identifies the material type. Once again, you must know what is acceptable in your community.
Winnipeg has three 4R Recycling Depots. They are located at Brady Road Landfill, Pacific Ave. and Panet Road. These are the locations that you can take items like car batteries, large mixed plastics, hazardous waste, electronics. Fluorescent light bulbs are NOT recyclable due to the mercury in them.
Winnipeg also has three community recycle depots. They are located at St. James Civic Centre, Waverley St. and Panet Road. Please do not nest the items into each other.
Recycling plants tend to have a 10-year life span. The existing plant has been in operation for 16.5 years. It was recently replaced with a new recycling plant with new robotic sorting machines. These are optical sorters. The first uses ‘image memory’ to detect an item (milk jugs) and then uses a suction arm to remove the jug from the belt. The second machine uses light reflection to identify the item then an air blast removes it from the belt.
Q/A
1.- Elaine Thompson asked if the blue caps should be removed from milk jugs prior to being placed in the Blue bin?
A.- Cap is not as important as a good rinse.
2.- Glenn Campbell queried if China is out of the paper and cardboard market, who processes it now?
A.- Paper was 30 to 40% of recycling that was sent to China. South Asia countries have taken up the slack for this product. North American mills are reopening as well, with some of them being owned by China companies.
3.- Chuck Crocker wanted to know if windshield washer plastic jugs are recyclable?
A.- With a good rinse they are. It is actually a high value plastic.
4.- Iain Scott asked if cork is recyclable?
A.- No it is not. The corks would just get lost in the belts at the plants.
5.- Darvin Jasper asked about what we should do about glass?
A.- Even though it is not sold on to make another product. Winnipeg does use it as a mixed aggregate for road fill instead of 100% stone. So, please place it into recycling.
6.- Elaine Thompson asked for clarification as to how much we need to rinse the cans and bottles prior to placing into the Blue bins?
A.- Rinse thoroughly. The cleaner the better. Items should be ‘clean’.
7.- Dave Morris wanted to know the cost of a new mechanical sorting machine?
A.- $1/2 million.
8.- Bob Eilers asked if cardboard is treated differently than paper.
A.- Yes it is.
9.-John Inglis questioned how long has Winnipeg been actively recycling?
A.- 1992 / depot programs || 1995 / Blue Box program || 2010 Blue Bins
10.- Bob Eilers asked if the city is considering picking up organics year-round?
A.- Right now the city only picks up organics/ yard waste in the fall for yard cleanup. Just recently got approval for a 2-year pilot program regarding composting house organics. Winnipeg is one of the last cities of this size to not have a composting program. This would take 40% of the total material out of the landfill.
11.- Lloyd Talbot pointed out that Winnipeg does not recycle road sand.
A.- There is a 1.5-year pilot program studying this issue. Sand, bio solids (dried end product from waste treatment facilities) and wood chips could be used as a material to cover the landfill.
Mark closed his presentation by stating that by being active with waste diversion and recycling we are all trying to make our community better. This follows what Rotary is all about as well.
Lloyd Talbot thanked Mark Kinsley on behalf of the entire club. Think we may have broken a record with the number of questions after a presentation tonight. Mark was advised that a donation in his name would be made to ShelterBox.
