Recycling audit: Town of Newmarket to spot check residential blue bins

Residents will either receive a "good job" or "these don't belong" door knockers if visited on garbage day

Yorkregion.com
July 16, 2019
Teresa Latchford

You may want to pay extra attention to what you put in your blue box in the coming weeks.

The Town of Newmarket has launched its first curbside audit campaign, where town staff will be visiting areas around town to conduct a random visual inspection of blue box materials placed at the curb for collection on scheduled waste and recycling collection days.

The purpose of the campaign is to remind residents of which items belong and do not belong in the blue box for recycling, while also recognizing residents who are doing a good job with their recycling efforts.

“Year-after-year, our diversion rates have continued to grow due to the commitment by Newmarket residents to reduce, reuse and recycle,” Mayor John Taylor said. “This educational campaign will serve as a reminder that proper separation of recycling materials can help make a difference in the community and that everyone has a role in ensuring environmental sustainability.”

If items that can’t be recycled are included in the blue box, for example a single plastic bag, it can contaminate all of the items in the blue box, meaning these items will make their way to the landfill and be treated as waste.

While the town has been monitoring contamination levels by working with York Region for years. Green For Life employees visually scan the blue boxes and the processing facility attempts to separate contamination as often as possible, but the town wanted to do more, according to Newmarket public works director Chris Kalimootoo.

“We are doing really well but we are hoping to do better,” he added, pointing out that Newmarket is in the 67 to 68th percentile when it comes to waste diversion. “The three main culprits of contamination in the blue box are coffee cups, plastic bags and polystyrene (white foam takeout containers).”

If visited, residents can expect to see one of two different sets of door hangers. One identifies contaminated items that do not belong in the blue box and the other identifies that a resident is doing a great job with their recycling efforts and will encourage them to continue.

During this campaign, residents are reminded to keep the following waste and recycling tips in mind:

Plastic bags/ film, plastic overwrap, polystyrene, plastic toys, batteries, medical waste, coffee pods and takeout cups do not belong in the blue box.

Recycle items such as flattened boxboard -- tissue boxes, pizza boxes, cardboard (flattened and bundled), plastic bottles and jugs, metal food and beverage containers -- emptied and rinsed, glass bottles and jars (lids removed), milk/ juice cartons and drink boxes (straws removed) and newsprint -- magazines, flyers, newspapers (plastic wrappers removed).

The town, in partnership with Diabetes Canada, has a textile-recycling program. This program accepts all adult and children’s clothing. Textiles can be brought to the Magna Centre, Ray Twinney Recreation Complex and Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall.

Residents can exchange their broken blue box at select Town of Newmarket facilities at no cost or call Green For Life (GFL) at 1-866-421-5625 to schedule a replacement bin exchange.

Purchase an additional blue box at a Town of Newmarket facility during regular business hours.

Do not overfill your blue box to the point of overflow. Flatten boxes to save space.

Place heavier items such as books and magazines on top of the lighter items in your blue box. This should help prevent light blue box materials, such as paper, from blowing out of the bin and littering the streets.

Cardboard boxes must be flattened and in securely tied bundles, no larger than 36 x 36 x 8 and can be placed out for collection on your regular scheduled day beside your blue box.

Download the "Recycle Coach" app from the App Store or on Google Play on your Apple or Android device to access collection schedules, reminders and disposal information, or visit Newmarket.ca to use the Recycle Coach web application for more tips.