Remember Recycling is only as hard as you make it & every little bit helps.
Please think CAN THIS BE REUSED OR RECYCLED before it goes in the garbage can.
FACT Most of our every day garbage can be re-used or recycled.
Tip Check with your local toddler groups, youth centers, Schools and collages to see if they can use any of the items you dispose of or recycle, these could be egg cartons, plastic bottles or containers, cereal boxes and more.

When using any Recycling Depot Please:

Follow all signs and instructions.
Make sure all items go in the correct bins.
Wash your recyclable items.
Think about going as a family, this will help secure good recycling habits in our future generations.
Be Safe watch out for the wild life.

Recycling Categories

H2O Recycling and Good Practices
Hazardous Waste
Plastics
Paper & Cardboard
Glass
Metal - (Ferrous)
Metal - (Non Ferrous)

H2O Recycling and Good Practices

H2O Recycling, Facts and Good Practices

Water is one of the most important elements to life here on Earth and we are running out of fresh water fast.
Report all water losses you see for example broken pipes, open hydrants, abandoned free-flowing wells, leaky out side taps etc to the property owner, local authorities or your local water provider.

Facts about water

Without water life on earth can not exist it's that simple, we must look after our water sources and recycle water when and where we can.
70% of earth's surface is water, made up from 97% in our seas and oceans, 2% still frozen in our icecaps but steadily decreasing through global warming, leaving only 1% fresh water and not all of that is accessible.
50% of all municipally-treated water used up during the summer months is by people watering their lawns and gardens. - Source: Environment Canada
20% of all municipal drinking water is lost to leaks. - Source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Tips on how to Save Water

Test your home water system for leaks by taking a meter reading then not using any water for 2 to 3 hours. If you meter has not changed you should be ok but if it has registered water usage have a professional take a look.
DO Not put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant, the garden, or cleaning something else.
If you have a large capacity toilet system take 1 regular sized building brick place it in to a large Ziploc bag wait until you need to flush the toilet next and as the system empties place the brick to one side away from any internal workings. This will decrease the amount of water used to fill the system.
When washing the pots use a small washing up bowl instead of the sink, your water is then already in a portable container to be recycled somewhere else around the home or garden.

What is Gray Water Recycling

Gray Water Recycling is the use of reclaimed water which typical comes from your sinks, bathtubs, showers, laundry machines, dishwashers and from cooking, But Not the flushed water from your toilet.
Tip Buy Environmentally Friendly cleaning products including soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents or any other product that will come in to contact with our environment. This helps to prevent and reduce contamination in our water sources and your gray water will then also remain cleaner and free from harmful chemicals.
Warning Do Not Use gray water to wash, rinse or prepare food as it could contain harmful bacteria if consumed.

Ways to collect your Gray Water

Wash your pots in a bowl not the sink so your grey water is already in a portable container and can be put to good use straight away.
Place buckets or containers suitable to carry water around the home near any water source you know you can reclaim.
Tip get into the habit of gathering your Gray Water and putting it to use straight away instead of storing it for later. This will reduce the amount of bacteria forming in the water by not allowing it to become stagnant and multiply.

Ways to use your Gray Water

The most common use for gray water is watering plants and the garden.
Tip to help prevent any harm to your plants pour the gray water around the base of the plant and not directly on to it. This reduces the concentration of any harmful bacteria or toxins exposed directly to your Plant helped by soil filtration and moisture already in the ground.

What is Rain Water Recycling

Rain Water Recycling is the use of captured and stored rain water. This is useful for the dryer times of year, help reduce your water bills and reduce the demand on the local fresh water supply.

Ways to collect Rain Water

The most common way to collect rain water is through a water barrel that collects the water from your homes roof guttering system before going down the main drain or just spilling out on to the yard.
Tip Make sure when purchasing a rain water barrel that it includes the following, a filter for the downpipe intake, a hosepipe attachment near the bottom of the barrel for easy water access and a rain water diverter kit (may be sold separately) so once your barrel is full the water will continue on it's original path or at least an overflow near the top of the barrel so you are able to divert the water away from the home or into another barrel through a connecting hose.

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Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

Symbols identifying Hazardous product content types are now found on most Household & commercial containers. Most of these types of product found around the home or place of work can have more than one hazardous content warning symbol. These products must be stored out of direct sunlight and away from children and pets.
Reducing the number of hazardous products you buy reduces the sources of household hazardous waste later. Wise buying decisions and good management practices can reduce the hazards in the home, in the air we breathe and in the water we drink.

(Poison) Poisonous to people & animals. Example: Bleach, cleaning solutions.
(Explosive) Can create an explosion. Example: Ammonia, aerosol products.
(Corrosive) Substances that react or corrode. Example: Oven cleaners, battery acid.
(Flammable) Materials will ignite easily. Example: Solvents, paints, gasoline.

When Buying

Read labels. Make sure the product will do what you want and that you will feel safe using it. If ingredients aren't listed, choose another brand.
Select the least hazardous product. Let the signal words - poison, danger, warning or caution - be your guide.
Buy only as much as you need and use it up in a short period of time.
Avoid aerosol products. Choose the pump spray or another alternative. Aerosols have toxic propellants that can explode. The fine mist also is more easily inhaled.
Choose water-based paint, glue, shoe polish and similar products rather than solvent-based products.

When Using

Read the directions and follow them.
Wear protective equipment - such as rubber gloves - as recommended by the manufacturer.
Handle products carefully to avoid spills. Keep the container closed tightly when it's not being used to avoid fumes and spills.
Use products in well-ventilated areas. When working indoors, open windows and use a fan to circulate the air toward the outside. Take plenty of fresh-air breaks.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using hazardous products. Traces of chemicals can be carried from hand to mouth.
Do not mix products unless directions say that you can do so safely. Even different brands of the same product may contain incompatible ingredients.
If you're pregnant, avoid exposure to toxic chemicals. Many toxic products have not been tested for their effect on an unborn infant.
Don't wear soft contact lenses when working with solvents and pesticides. They can absorb and hold the chemicals next to you eyes.
Carefully and tightly seal products when you finish. Escaping fumes can be harmful and you will avoid spills.
Use common sense.

When Storing

Follow label directions.
Leave the product in its original container with the original label attached.
Never store hazardous products in food or beverage containers.
Make sure lids and caps are tightly sealed.
Store hazardous products on high shelves or in locked cabinets out of the reach of children and animals.
Store incompatible products separately. Keep flammable products away from corrosive products.
Store volatile products - those that warn of vapours and fumes - in a well-ventilated area.
Keep containers dry to prevent rusting.
Store rags used with flammable products, such as furniture stripper and paint remover, in a sealed, marked container.
Keep flammable products away from heat, sparks or sources of ignition.
Know where flammable materials are located in your home and know how to extinguish them. Keep a fire extinguisher or materials to control fires where you can get to them.
Never store hazardous product in the same area as food.

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Plastics

Plastics - Types 1 - 7 (Please note, type 1 & 2 Are the most commonly accepted plastics)

Symbols identifying plastic types are now found on most containers. Type 1 through 7 plastics include most soft drink bottles; milk containers; laundry detergent containers; cooking oil bottles; grocery, bread, and dry cleaner bags; and yogurt cups.

1. (PET,PETE) Polyethylene Terephthalate. Example: Soft drink & water bottles.
2. (HDPE) High Density Polyethylene. Example: Milk, juice & water bottles.
3. (V) Polyvinyl. Example: Juice bottles, cling film & PVC piping.
4. (LDPE) Low Density Polyethylene. Example: Freezer bags, squeeze bottles.
5. (PP) Polypropylene. Example: yogurt & margarine tubs, take away containers.
6. (PS) Polystyrene. Example: Egg cartons, disposable cups, plates, & cutlery.
7. (O) Other. Example: Baby bottles, electronic casings.

If you really have to drink water from bottles check to make sure you can recycle your brand.
There are many alternatives to drinking bottled water for example: Brita Filter products or a filter on your home water supply. (Speak with your local hardware store).

When Buying

Check to make sure the product has a plastic type number so you know if it can be recycled near you.

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Paper & Cardboard Recycling

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

Paper and Cardboard is something we all use every day without ever thinking that millions of trees are cut down every year to make the various types of paper and wood based products used around the world.
Fact Trees cover about 9.6 billion acres of the Earth's surface. That is only 29.6 percent of earth's total land area. Trees once covered almost all of Earth's land masses.
Fact One tree can produce up to 260 pounds of oxygen each year, around the amount needed to supply a family of 4.

General Recovered Paper Definitions

Listed below are the simplified general definitions for the different types and grades of recovered paper currently recycled by Canadian paper mills.

(Newspapers) Example: Newspapers, special news (which include de-ink quality), over-issue news, and white blank news.
(Magazines) Example: Dry coated magazines, catalogues, mixed mechanical, coated mechanical sections, and flyleaf shavings.
(Pulp Substitutes) Example: Unprinted bleached papers and boards.
(Office Paper) Example: Dry papers typically generated by offices containing primarily white and coloured wood free paper.
(Corrugated) Example: Corrugated boxes, Kraft paper, and Kraft paper bags generated from supermarkets and/or industrial or commercial facilities, which have been sorted to be free of plastic and wax.
(Boxboard) Example: Containers of solid fibre, including cereal boxes, shoe boxes and protective paper packaging for dry foods. Also includes folding paper cartons, set-up boxes, and similar boxboard products.
(Mixed Paper) Example: Consists of a mixture of various qualities of paper, not limited to type of packing or fibre content
(Other) Example: Specialty grades as glassine, carbon paper, and those containing wet strength, poly coatings, hot-melt glue, etc.

Source: The Paper Recycling Association (PRA)

The Paper Recycling Process Explained

Have you ever wondered what happens to your paper once you drop it off at your local recycling depot? Well read on to find out the answer.

1. Re-pulping

Once the paper is sorted and at the mill it is loaded onto conveyors leading to a big vat called a Pulper also containing water and a combination of chemicals. The Pulper chops the paper into small pieces whilst hearting the mixture to decrease the time taken to break down the paper into the tiny strands of cellulose (organic plant material) called fibres. The mixture will eventually turn into a mush called pulp.

2. Screening

The pulp is forced through screens (screen holes, size and shapes vary) this is to filter and remove any small contaminants, for example dirt, glue and bits of plastic. That's it for the screening process.

3. Cleaning

The pulp is placed into large cone shaped cylinders and spun (like in a washing machine). This helps remove the heavy containments such as staples which are thrown to the outside of the cylinder and fall through the bottom whilst the lighter contaminants gather in the center of the cylinder which are then also removed.

4. Deinking

Some pulp must go through the Deinking process to remove printed ink and sticky materials such as glue and other adhesives. There are 2 common processes one is to rinse the small particles of ink with water in a process called washing whilst the larger particles and sticky materials are removed with air bubbles in a process called flotation. Flotation deinking requires the use of a large vat called a Flotation Cell where air and soap like chemicals called surfactants are mixed into the pulp. This causes the ink and sticky materials to loosen from the pulp and float to the top of the Flotation Cell. This creates a froth that is removed leaving the clean pulp behind.

5. Refining

To refine the pulp it is beaten to allow the recycled fibres to separate into individual strands and swell, this then makes the fibres ideal for papermaking.

6. Color Stripping

If the recovered paper is coloured the pulp will go through a process called color stripping using chemicals to remove the different color dyes from the paper.

7. Bleaching

For making white recycled paper the pulp may need to go through a process called bleaching to give the paper a bright white finish. More chemicals are used for this process typically Hydrogen Peroxide, Chlorine Dioxide or Oxygen. Usually recovered paper for brown paper products like commercial paper towels will not need to go through the bleaching process.

8. Papermaking

Now that the recovered paper has been chopped, screened, cleaned, deinked, stripped of its color and bleached the end result is pulp ready to be turned back into a paper product. The pulp can be used on its own or mixed with new wood called virgin fibre this can add strength and even a smoother finish to the product.
The papermaking process starts with mixing the processed pulp with water and more chemicals to approximately a 99.5 percent water mixture. This mixture is fed into the head box (a large metal box at the beginning of the papermaking machine) the pulp is then sprayed continually onto a fast moving large flat screen conveyor. Whilst moving along the conveyer the water begins to drain from the pulp mixture leaving behind the drying fibres. To remove more of the water the pulp sheet on the conveyer goes through a series of felt covered press rollers squeezing out more water with each roller the pulp passes through.
To finish the drying process the pulp sheet now resembling paper is continued on the conveyer through a series of heated metal rollers until dry. Some paper has a special coating mixture applied at around this point in the process or in a separate process at the end to give it a smooth and glossy finish. The paper finally is wound on a large roll and removed from the machine ready to be cut to size, and that is a simple explanation on how your recycled paper becomes a new paper product.

When Buying

As with all products packaging is always a large part of the waste generated in our homes and business, but by purchasing wisely you can reduce your waste at the source. For example look for products made from recycled rather than virgin or non recyclable materials reducing you landfill destined garbage dramatically.

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