Like many municipalities, Niagara faced a challenge in managing its mixed broken glass (MBG). Historically, the Region used its manually sorted MRF glass in its EcoGlass plant to produce abrasives for sandblasting. Due to changes in MRF processing design resulting in a transition from manual glass sorting to mixed broken glass...
Depot operations used to seem pretty easy: set out a few roll off bins, add a bit of signage and collect up all the waste and recyclables your residents wanted to bring to you. But that was always a myth. Blue Box depot at Woodstock Operating efficient and safe recycling depots requires...
Residue rates in Ontario have more than doubled over the past 15 years from 4% to a provincial average of 9.6%. Dual-stream residue rates are in the range of 7.6% while single-stream rates exceed the provincial average at 11.6% and both are continuing in an upward trend adding stress to...
For most programs, collecting quality recyclables from multi-residential (MR) buildings is still a big hill to climb, despite efforts to increase convenience and capacity and communicate effectively. The question remains: is it best to use technology to clean up materials at the MRF or can we change behaviour with P&E...
Yankee baseball legend Yogi Berra said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Unfortunately, we are now forced to do just that with respect to the effect of new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation on recycling collection and processing contracts that are up for renewal. Many municipalities have waited a...
CIF staff recently completed spring outreach meetings around the Province, with municipal staff and politicians in Dryden, London, North Bay, Oliver Paipoonge, Peel, Smiths Falls, Spanish and Wawa. Despite some unforgiving late spring weather, participation was as strong as ever. Our sincere thanks to each host community and their staff...
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) use a lot of electricity. The City of London (the City) owns and contracts out the operation of a two-stream Regional MRF to process approximately 35,000 tonnes of Blue Box recyclables annually for itself and 8 neighbouring municipalities. London MRF In reviewing electricity costs with London Hydro, city...
Bill 151, the Waste Free Ontario Act raises questions for communities that need to establish new or extend existing contracts. Without knowing exactly when the legislation will come into force or what it will mean, it’s important to provide flexibility through shorter term contracting to prevent unfunded obligations or a...
Getting recyclable materials to market without breaking the bank is a common challenge faced by remote municipalities in Northern Ontario. Inadequate infrastructure and considerable geographic distances to recycling centres can quickly inflate shipping costs. The Municipality of Red Lake decided to overcome these challenges by making an investment in their...
In the face of a continually evolving mix of consumer packaging, MRF operators must make strategic investments to maximize profitability from their available material stream. Niagara Region's new eddy current separator system For Niagara Region, that meant installing a new Javelin Manufacturing L.L.C. eddy current separator system (ECSS) to reduce residue in...
Modern MRFs require constant investments in order to take advantage of new technologies, deal with the changing waste stream and remain cost competitive. In 2011, York Region added two optical sort systems, plus a mixed paper sort line and a new baler. The Region also widened the mixed paper and...
