Calgary recycles

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I am in one of the trial areas, and I love it. I have the bins wheeled up to my deck so I can just toss the bags into the garbage one or empty my mini recycling bin in my back porch into the the blue one, and only need to wheel them out probably once every 2-3 wks. And no worry of cats ripping every bag apart.

Question for you:
Do you have to put your garbage into a garbage bag and then put taht bag into the 'black' bin? Or can you just put your garbage directly into the bin (that's what they do in Regina).

I'm hoping it will be the latter, otherwise my garage will be filled with bins and cans. Seems like a pain to have to put garbage into my own can (with a bag) and then take the bag out and put it into the bin on garbage days.

Alternating weeks would also be a good alternative for me.

Agree that the City needs to get multi family units on board ASAP WRT recycling.

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by fusili

The multifamily waste issue pisses me off. The blue bins are not done by the City for multifamily and AFAIK, most multifamily regular garbage isn't covered by Calgary Waste and Recycling Services, and is instead done by private companies. It sucks.

Yes, it is a joke that we cannot accomodate Multi-family. I am moving in to a condo soon and it is back to the old "sort my recycling" days. I will still recycle but I have been to condos where the owners seem to lose touch with recycling because it takes effort. New condos need to incorporate recycling into desings. I am renoing my kitchen and I will be including a "recycling station" that will have a couple different, slim bins built under my counter. More units should have this convenience built in. Some may say it wastes space but my recycling bins look like Sh%#.

[MichaelS]

You don't need to "sort" your recycling if you live in a condo. The community recycling depots just allow you to put everything into the one big bin there, as it is taken to the same sorting plant as all the residential blue bins. All you need is one big container for your condo, and just drive it to the community stations to dump it into one of the collection bins.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by lubicon

Question for you:
Do you have to put your garbage into a garbage bag and then put taht bag into the 'black' bin? Or can you just put your garbage directly into the bin (that's what they do in Regina).

I'm hoping it will be the latter, otherwise my garage will be filled with bins and cans. Seems like a pain to have to put garbage into my own can (with a bag) and then take the bag out and put it into the bin on garbage days.

Alternating weeks would also be a good alternative for me.

Agree that the City needs to get multi family units on board ASAP WRT recycling.

I put bags into the bin, however I often put larger items into the bin loose. I don't just toss in all garbage as I once had a bunch of small loose stuff tossed in and I believe that as it was being dumped into the truck the wind got some of it and it made a bit of a mess.

[mooky]

kw5150, I concur with MichaelS.

Yes you used to have to sort your recycling, but since they switched to household pickup, they switched the community giant green bins to dump it all in, and they sort it at the plant.

I've wondered how efficient the sorting is when smashed glass mixes with paper, and cardboard, metal, etc.

I mean, they used to have you sort colored glass from clear glass, why I don't know, but I figured there was a reason. Now sorting bits of colored glass from bits of clear glass has to be a lot harder, or they just don't do it anymore.

[kw5150]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

You don't need to "sort" your recycling if you live in a condo. The community recycling depots just allow you to put everything into the one big bin there, as it is taken to the same sorting plant as all the residential blue bins. All you need is one big container for your condo, and just drive it to the community stations to dump it into one of the collection bins.

Well, as a brand new condo owner, I thank you very much for the advice. I really had no idea it was still so convenient. Good for calgary.

P.S. I will still be incorporating recycling bins into my kitchen design!!

[jeffwhit]

Friends of mine have been in the test program for a while, they love it.

[MichaelS]

Just got thinking about this more last night. Since we no longer have to sort out our recycleables, do we still have to take labels off of jars and cans? I still do, but is it necessary?

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Just got thinking about this more last night. Since we no longer have to sort out our recycleables, do we still have to take labels off of jars and cans? I still do, but is it necessary?

I'm pretty sure you don't have to. I don't.

[freeweed]

You don't have to. The city gave out a brochure that speaks to this. I think they still ask that people rinse them out but beyond that, nada. Just chuck it in!

[MichaelS]

Awesome, thanks for the responses guys.

[Cage]

Not for want of Regurgitating an old thread, but Yellow Pages group has issued a green reminder that households can opt out of the Yellow Pages. See below:
http://www.ypg.com/en/newsroom/520-yello...lgary-residents-of-print-opt-out-program

Yellow Pages Group Reminds Calgary Residents of Print Opt-Out Program
Print Version Opt-out period for 2011 distribution of Yellow Pages™ directory in Calgary
closing on August 19, 2011


Calgary (Alberta), July 19, 2011 – Yellow Pages Group (YPG) is reminding Calgary residents that they have until Friday, August 19, 2011 to opt-out of receiving their 2011 Yellow Pages print directory, to be distributed beginning in October in the Calgary area. Through Yellow Pages Group’s Custom Delivery Program, residents can easily remove their names from the print directory delivery list.

“While print directories remain consulted by 1 in 2 Canadians each month to find a business, it is only one of the search platforms we offer, the others being online and mobile,” said Annie Marsolais, Director, Corporate and Marketing Communications at Yellow Pages Group. “Our goal is to ensure that the print directory is delivered only to those who wish to receive them. Therefore, we encourage Canadians who do not wish to receive the directory at their homes to opt-out of the delivery list.”

Calgary households can easily opt-out of their Yellow Pages directory delivery online at http://www.ypg.com/delivery or by contacting Yellow Pages Group’s Distribution Call Centre at 1-800-268-5637.

Residential directories used to find personal phone numbers, commonly known as the “white pages” are now available only upon request. Copies can be obtained online at http://www.ypg.com/delivery or by contacting Yellow Pages Group’s Distribution Call Centre at 1-800-268-5637.

Yellow Pages directory content is readily available online at YellowPages.ca™ and Canada411.ca™ or through mobile applications on Blackberry®, Apple iPhone™, Apple iPad™, Google™ Android™ and Windows Phone 7™ at www.yellowpages.ca/mobile.

Commitment to the Environment
YPG encourages waste reduction and recycling efforts across Canada. The company has proactively reduced its directory paper consumption by 25% over the last two years through distribution and manufacturing initiatives. YPG also works with provincial recycling councils nationwide and regularly reminds Canadians to recycle their old directories once the new ones arrive at their doorstep. According to studies by environmental organizations, over 85% of Canadians recycle their outdated phonebooks. In addition, print directories have one of the highest material recycling rates in Canada, compared to other materials.

Yellow Pages directories are entirely recyclable and outdated editions can be disposed of as part of regular municipal recycling pickup.

Further information on YPG’s environmental commitment can be found at http://www.ypg.com/environment.

[Chinook Arch]

A couple of things to put to this thread.

1) Anyone know when the new landscape material bins are going to come out?

2) I routinely see bottle pickers going through my recycle bin and taking the bottles. These aren't homeless people either - yesterday a guy with a brand new pickup came and took some. His truck was full of bottles. Normally I wouldn't care but iirc the bottles go toward funding of the recycle program no?

[Elbownian]

Originally Posted by Chinook Arch

I routinely see bottle pickers going through my recycle bin and taking the bottles. These aren't homeless people either - yesterday a guy with a brand new pickup came and took some. His truck was full of bottles. Normally I wouldn't care but iirc the bottles go toward funding of the recycle program no?

I lived facing the alley between 56th and 57th Ave in Windsor Park for five years - three dumpsters in easy view from my living room. You'd be absolutely amazed at the demographics of dumpster divers. I saw everything from your standard-issue cart pushers to guys in suits, even whole families out trolling the alley on weekends like some sort of treasure hunt. Seems like it's an additional income stream for some people, and just a hobby for others. I just look at it as another form of recycling, albeit unofficial.

You do have a good point about the loss of revenue from the bottles though, but short of locking up all the carts (which may just lead to outright theft of the whole thing!) I'm not sure there's really a solution for that.

Anyone heard word on multi-family recycling? My building has a private program, but I'm still stuck sorting and removing labels!

[Chinook Arch]

Normally I wouldn't care. I used to have bottle pickers go through the alley all the time and it never bothered me at all, more power to them i used to say, but guys with new vehicles doing this are just greedy money grubbers.

I'd like to see a fine imposed, as the bottles really belong to the city once you put them in the bin.

Originally Posted by Elbownian

I lived facing the alley between 56th and 57th Ave in Windsor Park for five years - three dumpsters in easy view from my living room. You'd be absolutely amazed at the demographics of dumpster divers. I saw everything from your standard-issue cart pushers to guys in suits, even whole families out trolling the alley on weekends like some sort of treasure hunt. Seems like it's an additional income stream for some people, and just a hobby for others. I just look at it as another form of recycling, albeit unofficial.

You do have a good point about the loss of revenue from the bottles though, but short of locking up all the carts (which may just lead to outright theft of the whole thing!) I'm not sure there's really a solution for that.

Anyone heard word on multi-family recycling? My building has a private program, but I'm still stuck sorting and removing labels!

[hulkrogan]

I had someone dump a giant bag of garbage in my bin this weekend. Enough it's over 3/4 full. Garbage day is Friday. Usually I have next to nothing in there, but it is still a piss off as the odd time I'll have a larger than usual amount of waste and need the space.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by Chinook Arch

A couple of things to put to this thread.

1) Anyone know when the new landscape material bins are going to come out?

Are you refering to the green bins? AFAIK they won't roll out to the rest of the city for a couple of years yet, 2014 or 2015 IRC

[DizzyEdge]

I only put bottles with deposits in my bins once. After coming home to find the contents of the bin strewn all over my backyard and the bottles gone, I now take them to a bottle depot.

[5seconds]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I had someone dump a giant bag of garbage in my bin this weekend. Enough it's over 3/4 full. Garbage day is Friday. Usually I have next to nothing in there, but it is still a piss off as the odd time I'll have a larger than usual amount of waste and need the space.

You can still put black garbage bags out beside the cart. Sucks, but at least it won't cost you anything.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I only put bottles with deposits in my bins once, after coming home to find the contents of the bin strewn all over my backyard and the bottles gone. Now I take them to a bottle depot.

My trip to the bottle depot a week ago netted me nearly $50. For the little work is takes to keep the bottles separate, it's totally worth it.

However, if they would just get rid of the deposit, so that we could throw the bottles in the recycling bins, that would be the best.