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.
Operating efficient and safe recycling depots requires planning that can more closely represent a department store than a waste management facility. Understanding the complexities in depot design, construction and operations is critical to making one work well.
For several years, CIF staff have worked closely with depot operators across the province to solve problems and identify efficiencies. Last year we hosted a Depot training session and just this spring (2016), we established a Municipal Depot Working Group – to build on the learnings to date and develop preferred strategies for best practices.
In any case, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to poke around the Depot resource.
Toolkits and guides
In June, we launched a new Small Municipal Depot Guide with about 80 pages of guidance tailored specifically to making recycling depots work well. A companion piece – the Depot Costing Model for operations and capital planning is also available and is currently under review with the Working Group. We expect to launch a new version soon – and we always welcome your comments.