Buy recycling bins on sale, reduce single-use plastics for Waste Reduction Week

Try using a reusable water bottle, eliminating plastic straws and bringing your own reusable shopping bags

Newmarkettoday.ca
October 16, 2019

It’s Waste Reduction Week in the Town of Newmarket (Oct. 21 to 27). Take advantage of our blue box, green bin and kitchen catcher sale during the week and help keep Newmarket and the world cleaner and greener.

“Waste Reduction Week serves as a reminder to Newmarket residents that they can do even more for the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling,” says Mayor John Taylor. “Residents can do their part by participating in our blue box, green bin, and kitchen catcher sale and by reducing the use of single-use plastics. This can be as simple as using a reusable water bottle, eliminating the use of plastic straws and bringing your own reusable shopping bags. Doing your part will help save energy, reduce deforestation and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.”

From Monday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 27, the Town of will be offering waste and recycling containers at reduced costs (limit two per household):

• Kitchen catchers for $3
• Blue boxes for $6
• Green bins for $15

Kitchen catchers, blue boxes and green bins can be purchased at the following Town facilities during Waste Reduction Week as well as year-round:

• Municipal Offices (395 Mulock Dr.): Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Robert. N Shelton Operations Centre (1275 Maple Hill Court): Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that backyard composters are available for purchase at the Operations Centre for $20 each (only debit/credit is accepted).
• Magna Centre (800 Mulock Dr.): Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Ray Twinney Recreation Complex (100 Eagle St. West): Monday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Seniors’ Meeting Place (474 Davis Dr.): Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed from 1 to 2 p.m.)

Waste and recycling tips to help reduce waste

• All plastic bags (including plastic wraps/bags that newspapers come in), polystyrene foam packaging, and furnace filters belong in the garbage, not in your blue box.
• Recycle items such as boxboard, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, metal cans and newspaper in your blue box. Remember to empty and clean containers before putting them in your blue box.
• Use compostable bags for your green bin and kitchen catcher, and do not mix waste with organic waste (for example, plastic wrap on a cucumber).
• Remember to use paper bags for yard waste or open-top garbage cans with open, rigid handles and marked ‘yard waste’. Accepted yard waste material includes: weeds, plant trimmings and small branches. Please leave grass clippings and dirt out of yard waste. Keep in mind that when pumpkins and other fall décor go bad, they should be placed in yard waste and not compost.
• Not sure what goes where? Visit newmarket.ca/wasteandrecycling to find out or use the Recycle Coach App.
• Remember to bring reusable bags when shopping. Keep a few reusable bags in the trunk of your vehicle or right by the door so they are always available. This will help reduce the use of plastic bags.

Background:

Waste Reduction Week in Canada is a national environmental campaign that builds awareness around issues of sustainable and responsible consumption, encourages choices for more environmentally responsible products/services and promotes actions that divert more waste from disposal and conserve natural resources.