Recycling Plastics ?

[tubs]

Where do you recycle plastics #3 to #5?

#1 & #2 -> Blue Box
#6 -> Designated disposal sites i.e. Environmental Days.


#3, #4, #5 -> ?

I have quite a few of the #3 to #5 from all the stuff I bought over time. It'd be nice to dispose of these properly rather than just dumping them in the garbage.

[jayk]

I was wondering the same thing.

Really stupid thing for labels for these plastics when they don't make recycling readily available for these plastics.

[hellodan]

Those numbers actually mean something? I've been throwing everything in the blue bin. If its plastic, i just chuck it in there. :confused: Crap.

[Spidey]

Must be different out there. Here we have huge green bins just marked plastics. One says cardboard and another says newspaper/flyers. And then glass and then metal.

if I had to sort plastics into different types, that would make me not want to recycle.

If the govt wants us to be "green" they have to make these thing easy for people.

[CPM440V]

Not all plastic is the same. The codes represent the different polymers or something:

http://www.recyclenow.org/r_plastics.html

I chuck tofu containers into the blue box all the time though. Hopefully, the sorters at the plant get pissed off and then kick up a stink and then they force the manufacturers to stick with #1 or #2.

[granite_grrl]

Is it different from town to town? I can't remember exactally what we can/can't recycle in St. Catharines, but we got the list online through the city. There should be a list out there if you go looking for it.

[markduess]

Hi everyone.. Granite grrl is correct. You can find out the proper plastics to put in your recycling box, by checking wth your recycling service provider. For example if you live in home, and the /city collects it check them. If you live in a condo, sometimes the service is managed by your condo corp's contractor, and of course your place iof business may have a different provider.

If you live in Toronto the source is found of of this page. http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/index.htm

Perhaps everyone can put their town/ city's source on here for easy reference.

Further to CPM440V's comment, the "number" is to indicate a type of plastic, but that's not the whole story. The same plastic can be formed by different process, ie blow moulding, injection moulding and this also plays with the ability to recycle the plastic. In the past, Toronto, specified #1 and #2 but went further with narrow mouthed containers which would indicate blow moulding ( I think). Less of the number's are stressed now because there is alot of confusion, and who really can make out those little symbols now.. (I'm getting old). More often is the case that we would specify the type like a bottle, or a tub.
Although you are correct in saying the plastics will be sorted, the "sorters" have little input into the Recycling process. Any residue plastic is sent to landfill, but essentially this residue has been trucked, handled and retrucked, hence increasing the environmental impact of the disposal of this plastic.

Proper source separation is always the key to cost effective recycling. Too much contamination of the recycling stream may warrant straight disposal into landfill. Of course, if everyone source separated properly, then there would be less work for the sorters. Sorry to any sorters reading this.

I have to finish this by asking everyone to think hard about purchasing the plastic item in the first place. Most of the food container plastic is not a recycled content container.. (I believe there is a regulation about this), and there may be little real choice in the purchase, for example Margarine but perhaps you can buy the product that you can recycle after its empty.

Aside from food containers, perhaps there are alternatively packaged item. Some people even return packaging to the place of purchase, as a message to the retailers, who do have the input into the packaging process. Ikea willingly takes back its cardboard and plastic packaging for recycling.

oh and of course, try to bring your own cloth or plastic bag instead of getting a brand new grocery bag everytime.

[Impossibles]

Hi everyone.. Granite grrl is correct. You can find out the proper plastics to put in your recycling box, by checking wth your recycling service provider. For example if you live in home, and the /city collects it check them. If you live in a condo, sometimes the service is managed by your condo corp's contractor, and of course your place iof business may have a different provider.

If you live in Toronto the source is found of of this page. http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/index.htm

Perhaps everyone can put their town/ city's source on here for easy reference.

Further to CPM440V's comment, the "number" is to indicate a type of plastic, but that's not the whole story. The same plastic can be formed by different process, ie blow moulding, injection moulding and this also plays with the ability to recycle the plastic. In the past, Toronto, specified #1 and #2 but went further with narrow mouthed containers which would indicate blow moulding ( I think). Less of the number's are stressed now because there is alot of confusion, and who really can make out those little symbols now.. (I'm getting old). More often is the case that we would specify the type like a bottle, or a tub.
Although you are correct in saying the plastics will be sorted, the "sorters" have little input into the Recycling process. Any residue plastic is sent to landfill, but essentially this residue has been trucked, handled and retrucked, hence increasing the environmental impact of the disposal of this plastic.

Proper source separation is always the key to cost effective recycling. Too much contamination of the recycling stream may warrant straight disposal into landfill. Of course, if everyone source separated properly, then there would be less work for the sorters. Sorry to any sorters reading this.

I have to finish this by asking everyone to think hard about purchasing the plastic item in the first place. Most of the food container plastic is not a recycled content container.. (I believe there is a regulation about this), and there may be little real choice in the purchase, for example Margarine but perhaps you can buy the product that you can recycle after its empty.

Aside from food containers, perhaps there are alternatively packaged item. Some people even return packaging to the place of purchase, as a message to the retailers, who do have the input into the packaging process. Ikea willingly takes back its cardboard and plastic packaging for recycling.

oh and of course, try to bring your own cloth or plastic bag instead of getting a brand new grocery bag everytime.

Best first post in the history of RFD!

Just to touch on the last couple points. I really hate how much plastic packaging is on products these days. It seems in the 90's, manufacturers shifted to less packaging, but now so many products are in huge plastic containers.

Small electronics used to just be in a cardboard box, now that cardboard box is encased in plastic.

[CSK'sMom]

Yep Impossibles, the over packaging drives me nuts these days. Not only have manufacturers taken to encasing everything in that dreaded "can't open for the life of me" plastic casing but lately it seems like there is printed instruction books in every language imaginable. I've taken to writing to the companies that have clearly overpackaged. Their usual standard response is that it's anti-theft measures which is pure BS as far as I am concerned...

[bobmans]

I absolutly hate this type of packaging. Difficult to get the product out without cutting a hand or finger trying to pull out the product after cutting the edges with sissors.

[auto-m8]

I work for a plastics company that can produce 8-12 million containers a day.
That's 2,920,000,000- 4,380,000,000 containers a year !!!!!!!!!

At an average weight of 30 grams each conservatively, just try to do the math on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we don't recycle them , they will wind up in the dump or somewhere worse.

[jayk]

manufacturers should have to pay for the amount of packaging they put in, because we are the ones who have to pay in the end for their "low costs of production"

[Becks]

In Vancouver, we recycle #1,2,4, and 5 plastics. #3 is pvc and it's not cost efficient to recycle it, according to wikipedia. During the labour strike, I went to Encorp (recycling company) to recycle the plastics and metal, but they only took three types of plastics. It is really annoying when plastics have no number on them because that means they cannot be put in the city blue box.

[brunes]

I work for a plastics company that can produce 8-12 million containers a day.
That's 2,920,000,000- 4,380,000,000 containers a year !!!!!!!!!

At an average weight of 30 grams each conservatively, just try to do the math on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we don't recycle them , they will wind up in the dump or somewhere worse.

It isn't as bad as people make it out to be. If these items were packaged in paper the weight would be around 10 times as much, which would end up burning more fossil fuel as the items were transported. And no, paper like that which would have to be used in this type of packaging (heavily treated) does not biodegrade well at all, especially in a landfill.

Buy items with reduced packaging as reasonable, recycle whenever you can. Other than those two things there isn't much you can do about the use of plastic - it is the best material for packaging that exists from a weight / strength / permeability standpoint - and you have package products in *something*.

[jayk]

In Vancouver, we recycle #1,2,4, and 5 plastics. #3 is pvc and it's not cost efficient to recycle it, according to wikipedia. During the labour strike, I went to Encorp (recycling company) to recycle the plastics and metal, but they only took three types of plastics. It is really annoying when plastics have no number on them because that means they cannot be put in the city blue box.
then we should tax all products that don't have a symbol or #3 plastics...#6 if there are no easily accessible facilities for recycling these.

[getmail99]

York region in Ontario allows me to put all plastics in the blue box.

[gman]

York region in Ontario allows me to put all plastics in the blue box.

I only have info for Markham. The booklet I got is from City of Markham (not from York Region). Yes, Markham takes all plastics. It used to only take number 2. That means Tropicana plastic jar was not allowed to be recycled.

EDIT: Not all plastic. The instruction for recycling plastic in Markham is:

All plastic food, drink and empty cleaning containers can go tin the Blue Box. No need to look for a number. No plastic toys.

[getmail99]

gman, you are correct. I think it is York Region, should be Markham only.

[TotallyKiller]

Must be different out there. Here we have huge green bins just marked plastics. One says cardboard and another says newspaper/flyers. And then glass and then metal.

if I had to sort plastics into different types, that would make me not want to recycle.

If the govt wants us to be "green" they have to make these thing easy for people.

Alberta Sucks for recycling compared to Ontario. Here we have to pay for it, have no organics and not everything can be recycled. Considering the growth in Calgary this is an area where they really dropped the ball and have no realistic plan in place to make up for it.

[don242]

Here in Cambridge we can recycle plastics #1-7 (except styrofoam) so pretty much all plastic can be taken.

Every place is different in what they can take.

However, you should be sure of what you put in the recycling box. If you aren't sure, it is better to leave it out. Too much contamination can ruin te whole batch.

I am not sure why manufacturers choose to use one plastic over the other or why they choose to use plastics at all and over package their products. I have refused to buy certain items when the packaging appears to be 90% of what you get.

[Rehan]

Just because all plastics are taken in a blue box from the curb doesn't mean they're actually recycled. When they're sorted through, many of the items can end up sent towards the trash pile.

The Region of Peel (Mississauga, Brampton, etc.) has put together a database of waste items with their recommended destination. From the list of plastics at http://www.region.peel.on.ca/scripts/waste/bluebox.pl?action=search&query=plastic&show=all here are a few of the things that can't be recycled here:
- Plastic utensils
- Plastic sandwich bag
- Plastic egg carton
- Bubbled plastic packaging
- Plastic cereal and cracker box liners
- Plastic produce containers
- Plastic clam shell containers
- Polystyrene "popcorn" packaging
- Yogurt/Pudding cup (single serve)

I was surprised to see some of the items on the list, like the produce/clam-shell containers and the yogurt cups.

[don242]

I was surprised to see some of the items on the list, like the produce/clam-shell containers and the yogurt cups.

I always wondered about the yogurt cups myself and have hesitated putting them in the recycling bin at times. But I am suprised they aren't recyclable as well. I would think when a company produces a product that has an obvious intention for a single serve container such as that, the least they could do is make it recyclable. I was happy they finally decided to accept drinking boxes and do something with those.

[gman]

I always wondered about the yogurt cups myself and have hesitated putting them in the recycling bin at times. But I am suprised they aren't recyclable as well. I would think when a company produces a product that has an obvious intention for a single serve container such as that, the least they could do is make it recyclable. I was happy they finally decided to accept drinking boxes and do something with those.

They can be recycle. It is the city decide not to. For example, in Markham, they can be recycle.

http://www.markham.ca/Markham/Departments/WstMgt/Recycle/CanRecycled.htm

All plastic containers #1-7. Include plastics such as bakery trays, plastic egg cartons, ice cream, margarine and yogurt tubs and microwavable dinner plastic trays.

Wait! May be Yogurt tub is not the same as Yogurt cup.

[stevethewheel]

Yep Impossibles, the over packaging drives me nuts these days. Not only have manufacturers taken to encasing everything in that dreaded "can't open for the life of me" plastic casing but lately it seems like there is printed instruction books in every language imaginable. I've taken to writing to the companies that have clearly overpackaged. Their usual standard response is that it's anti-theft measures which is pure BS as far as I am concerned...

It's convoluted and frustrating.

It is 100% true that most of those large encased-in-oversized-impossible-to-open packages are that way as an anti-theft measure.

An easy one would be an Ipod or similar thing that someone could simply slip into their pocket like they owned it.

Other things are anti-tamper (play with it in the store, maybe drop the battery cover on the floor but then leave that one on the shelf and take a new one)

Now for the convolution. It is the stores that demand the manufacturer come up with anti-theft or anti-tamper devices. Literally if you want to sell to a certain major chain you MUST do this or they will NOT sell your product.

So you are writing the manufacturer, but they say they are forced to do this by the retail store....if you write the retail store they will say that they do not tell the manufacturer to use the gigantic plastic casing. And they don't (sort of don't, they just keep saying no to ideas until the manufacturer hits one that works). You'd have to get them both in the room together to get a straight answer.

Back to the topic. I'd like to know what % of plastic that gets picked up actually gets recycled into something of value, either a new package or even filler in a road. And what % is just not reusable and gets sent overseas or into landfill.

[jayk]

I can't find this info anywhere on the web.

What type of plastic is

hard plastic wrap eg. Christmas gift basket plastic wrap.?

scotch tape?

hard plastic used to wrap common consumer items ie. the ones that you have to cut with scissors to get to your MP3 player, etc.

[st7860]

It's convoluted and frustrating.

It is 100% true that most of those large encased-in-oversized-impossible-to-open packages are that way as an anti-theft measure.

An easy one would be an Ipod or similar thing that someone could simply slip into their pocket like they owned it.

Other things are anti-tamper (play with it in the store, maybe drop the battery cover on the floor but then leave that one on the shelf and take a new one)

Now for the convolution. It is the stores that demand the manufacturer come up with anti-theft or anti-tamper devices. Literally if you want to sell to a certain major chain you MUST do this or they will NOT sell your product.

So you are writing the manufacturer, but they say they are forced to do this by the retail store....if you write the retail store they will say that they do not tell the manufacturer to use the gigantic plastic casing. And they don't (sort of don't, they just keep saying no to ideas until the manufacturer hits one that works). You'd have to get them both in the room together to get a straight answer.



You work in LP for walmart or something like that?

[stevethewheel]

You work in LP for walmart or something like that?

Let's just say I been around.

[willy_ph]

In Northumberland County, Ontario all sorting is conducted at a Material Handling Facility and they determine whether particular items are recycleable or not. Obviously non-recycleable materials are not permitted in the system, but we just throw items in a clear bag and the county looks after the rest.

[jayk]

Alberta Sucks for recycling compared to Ontario. Here we have to pay for it, have no organics and not everything can be recycled. Considering the growth in Calgary this is an area where they really dropped the ball and have no realistic plan in place to make up for it.

That's ridiculous, for the richest province in Canada to have the worst recycling program.

People there will be rolling around in landfill and smelling filth soon.

[gman]

That's ridiculous, for the richest province in Canada to have the worst recycling program.

People there will be rolling around in landfill and smelling filth soon.

May be they have more land for landfill. ;)

[brunes]

That's ridiculous, for the richest province in Canada to have the worst recycling program.

People there will be rolling around in landfill and smelling filth soon.

You'd never get a tax dollar funded recycling program through in Alberta. The government and populace in general is too far to the right to endorse it.

[Tjalfe]

Funny how we are to seperate the recycling properly, yet in Aurora, there is ONE truck, which picks up BOTH Green bin and Recycling, dumping it all in the same opening... I hope the sorting plant don't mind the diapers and dog poo mixed in with the plastics :evil:

[st7860]

You'd never get a tax dollar funded recycling program through in Alberta. The government and populace in general is too far to the right to endorse it.

really? but alberta brought in a tv recycling tax long before british columbia did.

[CSK'sMom]

Funny how we are to seperate the recycling properly, yet in Aurora, there is ONE truck, which picks up BOTH Green bin and Recycling, dumping it all in the same opening... I hope the sorting plant don't mind the diapers and dog poo mixed in with the plastics :evil:

Take a really good luck at the truck, here in Niagara we also have single trucks that pick up the designated recycling box of the week with the green bins. The truck is actually divided at the back to keep the products seperate...

[brunes]

really? but alberta brought in a tv recycling tax long before british columbia did.

TV recycling tax makes those who own TVs pay for the recycling.

Curbside recycling pickup means EVERYONE pays regardless of if they are using plastics.

Very different esp. to a right vs. left mindset.

IMO you'd have much more luck getting them to for example increase bottle deposit than institute curbside pickup.

[mlc2000]

Yep Impossibles, the over packaging drives me nuts these days. Not only have manufacturers taken to encasing everything in that dreaded "can't open for the life of me" plastic casing but lately it seems like there is printed instruction books in every language imaginable. I've taken to writing to the companies that have clearly overpackaged. Their usual standard response is that it's anti-theft measures which is pure BS as far as I am concerned...

Last Christmas, while trying to open a package containing a Bratz doll and assorted accessories, I considered hiring a team of demolition engineers to assist in removing the myriad of anti-theft restraints.:mad:

[chilts]

Not sure if it was mentioned but London Drugs(BC, AB, MN, SK) recycles plastic bags.

[Dave98]

I guess there aren't many places that recycle styrofoam like the takeout food containers. I stuffed a couple in my blue box the other week and they didn't take them. They take up quite a bit of space so it'd be nice to be able to recycle them.

[jayk]

I guess there aren't many places that recycle styrofoam like the takeout food containers. I stuffed a couple in my blue box the other week and they didn't take them. They take up quite a bit of space so it'd be nice to be able to recycle them.

The places that I found it are

1. U of T St .George Campus (possibly other campuses and universities too)
2. city recycling facilities

[CSK'sMom]

Last Christmas, while trying to open a package containing a Bratz doll and assorted accessories, I considered hiring a team of demolition engineers to assist in removing the myriad of anti-theft restraints.:mad:

OMG! With a 12 year old girl Bratz dolls are one of the dreaded things to open on Christmas morning! It becomes a huge procedure requiring 2 adults that have had their morning coffee (to prevent accidents with sharp instruments) and everyone else out of the room (due to flying pieces of plastic and assorted other things). Gawd, I hate the overpackaging on those things ~!~ Grr! :evil:

[Thundercloud]

Region of Waterloo is pretty good. #1-7, plastic bags, cartons, aluminum all in the blue box.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/97dfc347666efede85256e590071a3d4/c709152fd596f97085256e8b0052660e!OpenDocument

Also, blue bins are free!

[jayk]

Region of Waterloo is pretty good. #1-7, plastic bags, cartons, aluminum all in the blue box.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/97dfc347666efede85256e590071a3d4/c709152fd596f97085256e8b0052660e!OpenDocument

Also, blue bins are free!

OMG that is pretty much every type of plastic out there.
and then you wonder why a friggin large city like Toronto doesn't have those facilities, just cuz our MP's like to eat fancy dinners and sit on their asses all day

[gman]

OMG that is pretty much every type of plastic out there.
and then you wonder why a friggin large city like Toronto doesn't have those facilities, just cuz our MP's like to eat fancy dinners and sit on their asses all day

Money?

[don242]

OMG that is pretty much every type of plastic out there.
and then you wonder why a friggin large city like Toronto doesn't have those facilities, just cuz our MP's like to eat fancy dinners and sit on their asses all day

Waterloo region is pretty good with the recycling. I am just waiting for the green bins though which is still a couple of years off.

I am not sure why Toronto's recycling program is not better. It could be money since they are blowing ia all on shipping the trash somewhere else instead of dealing with it themselves. Unfortuanately a program like this is a commitment and the council there does not want to make these commitments, only take the short term easy routes out.

[gman]

Waterloo region is pretty good with the recycling. I am just waiting for the green bins though which is still a couple of years off.

I am not sure why Toronto's recycling program is not better. It could be money since they are blowing ia all on shipping the trash somewhere else instead of dealing with it themselves. Unfortuanately a program like this is a commitment and the council there does not want to make these commitments, only take the short term easy routes out.

I would say Toronto is still ahead of Waterloo region because Toronto has green bin. Although I don't agree with Toronto shipping trash away because it is a lot cheaper for them to do that. Land in Toronto is expensive comparing with that 'somewhere else'.

[don242]

I would say Toronto is still ahead of Waterloo region because Toronto has green bin. Although I don't agree with Toronto shipping trash away because it is a lot cheaper for them to do that. Land in Toronto is expensive comparing with that 'somewhere else'.

We are waiting for the green bin here. I guess they have to wait until the current contract ends to implement the green bin here. Although, to be honest, I just throw it all in the backyard composter anyway.

What I never understand is that they are doing some pilot trial now to see how it will work out. Can they not just look at the other cities that are already doing this? And then you get places like Guelph that have been doing this sort of thing for 20 years now.

I never said it was cheaper to ship the trash. I am sure it is much more expensive to ship the trash. The problem is there is a big lump upfront cost to coming up with a solution that none of the council wanted to be responsible for. Obviously developing a new landfill of their own would be cheaper in the end than shipping it. But shipping it looks better in the books since it is spread out. Anyway, I think last I heard Toronto was in the process of developing a new landfill? Or is it still just a proposal? I stopped listening to Toronto news about a year ago since I don't work there anymore.

[gman]

We are waiting for the green bin here. I guess they have to wait until the current contract ends to implement the green bin here. Although, to be honest, I just throw it all in the backyard composter anyway.
Green bin takes a lot more stuff than your composter can take.

What I never understand is that they are doing some pilot trial now to see how it will work out. Can they not just look at the other cities that are already doing this? And then you get places like Guelph that have been doing this sort of thing for 20 years now.
Every city allows a little different things in their green bin.

I never said it was cheaper to ship the trash. I am sure it is much more expensive to ship the trash. The problem is there is a big lump upfront cost to coming up with a solution that none of the council wanted to be responsible for. Obviously developing a new landfill of their own would be cheaper in the end than shipping it. But shipping it looks better in the books since it is spread out. Anyway, I think last I heard Toronto was in the process of developing a new landfill? Or is it still just a proposal? I stopped listening to Toronto news about a year ago since I don't work there anymore.
I said it is cheaper to ship out long term and short term because the land costs is huge. Also, how much tax money you would have get if the site is fully developed for regular usage.

[brunes]

Green bin takes a lot more stuff than your composter can take.

Every city allows a little different things in their green bin.

I said it is cheaper to ship out long term and short term because the land costs is huge. Also, how much tax money you would have get if the site is fully developed for regular usage.

It depends a lot where the land is located. A landfill doesn't care much what land it is on. You can take a muddy clay POS hunk of land in the middle of nowhere with no roads in or out and turn it into a landfil. if you do that the opportunity cost of using the land is nil.

[CSK'sMom]

Niagara is really good as well. Plastics include #1,2,4,5 and 6 as well as aluminum foil, tetra packs and plastic bags in our blue boxes. We have seperate grey boxes and green bins. Our green bins are picked up weekly and our grey and blue boxes are rotated for weekly pickup. I have often thought the same as don... for a city it's size Toronto is way behind on this stuff.

[gman]

It depends a lot where the land is located. A landfill doesn't care much what land it is on. You can take a muddy clay POS hunk of land in the middle of nowhere with no roads in or out and turn it into a landfil. if you do that the opportunity cost of using the land is nil.

Actually, it does. At least, it can't be close to underground water, for example.

[don242]

I said it is cheaper to ship out long term and short term because the land costs is huge. Also, how much tax money you would have get if the site is fully developed for regular usage.

I can't see how paying others to take garbage is cheaper in the end. Whoever is being paid to take the garbage is going to be collecting enough cash to replace the lost landfill space at some point in the future. They aren't going to take other citie's trash at a loss to themselves. So essentially Toronto is paying Michigan to take the garbage and in turn Michigan will make more money than the cost of the landfill. Nobody builds a landfill for $100M and then turns around and allows others to fill it up for only $50M. (I have no idea what the real costs are).

Toronto can make the landfill anywhere. Doesn't have to be in Toronto so land costs are not the real issue. Yes it does have to be a proper site that won't affect groundwater. The real issue is the unwillingness to put out the money to make the landfill because it is a large upfront cost. They would rather try to balance the books by making smaller payments forever(?). Bottom line is, that Toronto (like all cities, towns) has to deal with its waste. This is working for now but once the deal ends, then what? Last time they were talking about forcing all the other neighbouring landfills to take some of the trash. This is fair, how? Toronto needs to catch up and find a way to reduce the waste generated and also find a way to handle the waste they can't recycle.

I know we are drifting off topic here, but just curious what the property tax in Toronto is?

[gman]

I can't see how paying others to take garbage is cheaper in the end. Whoever is being paid to take the garbage is going to be collecting enough cash to replace the lost landfill space at some point in the future. They aren't going to take other citie's trash at a loss to themselves. So essentially Toronto is paying Michigan to take the garbage and in turn Michigan will make more money than the cost of the landfill. Nobody builds a landfill for $100M and then turns around and allows others to fill it up for only $50M. (I have no idea what the real costs are).

Toronto can make the landfill anywhere. Doesn't have to be in Toronto so land costs are not the real issue. Yes it does have to be a proper site that won't affect groundwater. The real issue is the unwillingness to put out the money to make the landfill because it is a large upfront cost. They would rather try to balance the books by making smaller payments forever(?). Bottom line is, that Toronto (like all cities, towns) has to deal with its waste. This is working for now but once the deal ends, then what? Last time they were talking about forcing all the other neighbouring landfills to take some of the trash. This is fair, how? Toronto needs to catch up and find a way to reduce the waste generated and also find a way to handle the waste they can't recycle.

I know we are drifting off topic here, but just curious what the property tax in Toronto is?

As I said, land cost is different. The same size of land in Toronto may worth (say) 1 billion. Or, any piece of land in City of Toronto area (not GTA) will worth 10 times more than the landfill site in Michigan. Last I heard, City of Toronto already bought a piece of land close to London to be its future landfill site. Of course, there will be a battle.

http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/green_lane.htm

On April 3, 2007 the City of Toronto officially acquired the Green Lane Landfill, securing Toronto’s long term disposal requirements for future decades.

[don242]

As I said, land cost is different. The same size of land in Toronto may worth (say) 1 billion. Or, any piece of land in City of Toronto area (not GTA) will worth 10 times more than the landfill site in Michigan. Last I heard, City of Toronto already bought a piece of land close to London to be its future landfill site. Of course, there will be a battle.

Correct. No one says that Toronto has to build the landfill in the city. They just need to build one.

[don242]

http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/green_lane.htm

Thanks for the link. I do remember hearing about this now.

Here is an interesting link as well.

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/programs/4651e.htm

About a quarter of the way down (Table 1) shows the diversion rate for various cities. These numbers are from 2002 so I am sure things are better now. Unfortunately these diversion rates include incineration which does divert from the landfill but not sure it is a great method for diversion.

I also realize that Toronto has additional challenges to divert waste. From your link "The current single-family residentials diversion rate is 58 percent and the multi-family residential diversion rate remains at 13 percent." Obviously Toronto has more multi-family units than other cities so this appears to be the greater challenge. How to get people in apartment buildings to participate in the programs.

[gman]

Correct. No one says that Toronto has to build the landfill in the city. They just need to build one.

However, everyone else besides people in city of Toronto wants city of Toronto to keep their waste within City of Toronto. Nobody wants other's trash in their back yard.

[don242]

However, everyone else besides people in city of Toronto wants city of Toronto to keep their waste within City of Toronto. Nobody wants other's trash in their back yard.

Also true.

Somehow we are way off topic. I think the whole point was just that it is surprising that Toronto who has a known challenge at this point with trying to reduce trash, is lagging behind when it comes to recycling.

[anom]

gman, you are correct. I think it is York Region, should be Markham only.

"York Region now accepts all rigid plastic food and household cleaning product containers with the numbers 1 through 7. "

http://www.york.ca/Services/Garbage+and+Recycling/Blue+Box+Recycling+Program.htm

[CSK'sMom]

Last Christmas, while trying to open a package containing a Bratz doll and assorted accessories, I considered hiring a team of demolition engineers to assist in removing the myriad of anti-theft restraints.:mad:

Hay mlc, I just had to dig this quote up after yesterday. All the Bratz we bought have these huge stickers all over them touting " New, Easy Open Package!" LOL! :D

[Menthol]

I work for a plastics company that can produce 8-12 million containers a day.
That's 2,920,000,000- 4,380,000,000 containers a year !!!!!!!!!

At an average weight of 30 grams each conservatively, just try to do the math on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we don't recycle them , they will wind up in the dump or somewhere worse.

What kind of containers are those? 12 million a day !!!

[jayk]

What # of plastic is the type of hard plastic used to wrap action figures?

And does anyone know if the GTA recycles any plastic in the blue box besides #1 and 2? They don't list the types of plastic, only the things they recycle on the website.

[gman]

What # of plastic is the type of hard plastic used to wrap action figures?

And does anyone know if the GTA recycles any plastic in the blue box besides #1 and 2? They don't list the types of plastic, only the things they recycle on the website.

There are more than one city in GTA. In Markham, it recycles all numbers.

[jayk]

There are more than one city in GTA. In Markham, it recycles all numbers.

that is wicked.
So do they throw all the plastic into one blue box? That would mean that you throw pretty much every piece of plastic into your box? That is really cool.

[gman]

that is wicked.
So do they throw all the plastic into one blue box? That would mean that you throw pretty much every piece of plastic into your box? That is really cool.

Only 1 to 7. Markham blue box program does not take plastic toy, plastic bag, plastic packaging.

[brunes]

that is wicked.
So do they throw all the plastic into one blue box? That would mean that you throw pretty much every piece of plastic into your box? That is really cool.

Around here in our blue box we can throw all plastic 1-7, plastic bags metal cans, juice boxes, milk cartons, and any refundable containers (non-glass). Grey box takes anything paper/cardboard. Blue box is picked up 1 week grey box the next.

I thought this was pretty standard where recycling existed but I guess it isn't - guess we're lucky.

[gman]

Around here in our blue box we can throw all plastic 1-7, plastic bags metal cans, juice boxes, milk cartons, and any refundable containers (non-glass). Grey box takes anything paper/cardboard. Blue box is picked up 1 week grey box the next.

I thought this was pretty standard where recycling existed but I guess it isn't - guess we're lucky.

In here, all your blue box and grey box materials goes to a blue box and it is picked up once per week. We also have green box and be picked up once per week.

[don242]

Around here in our blue box we can throw all plastic 1-7, plastic bags metal cans, juice boxes, milk cartons, and any refundable containers (non-glass). Grey box takes anything paper/cardboard. Blue box is picked up 1 week grey box the next.

I thought this was pretty standard where recycling existed but I guess it isn't - guess we're lucky.

In Cambridge we can also recycle the same, plastics 1-7, juice boxes, cans, milk cartons, paper, carboard, etc. But there are still places that don't take much. Brantford only takes platics 1-2 and even then are limited to specific containers.

[Dave98]

In here, all your blue box and grey box materials goes to a blue box and it is picked up once per week. We also have green box and be picked up once per week.

We don't have plastic bag pick up though (R.Hill) and it's a wonder why milk is still sold in them here in Ontario.

[brunes]

We don't have plastic bag pick up though (R.Hill) and it's a wonder why milk is still sold in them here in Ontario.

Buying milk in bags is better for the environment than buying cartons... they use less energy to make and less energy to recycle, and if not recycled they use less landfill space than a corresponding carton.

Of course milk in glass bottles would be best but I haven't seen anyone offering that in awhile...

[gman]

Buying milk in bags is better for the environment than buying cartons... they use less energy to make and less energy to recycle, and if not recycled they use less landfill space than a corresponding carton.

Of course milk in glass bottles would be best but I haven't seen anyone offering that in awhile...

I think the alternative he has in mind is not a carton but a re-usable plastic jug like those in Beckers.

[Dave98]

I think the alternative he has in mind is not a carton but a re-usable plastic jug like those in Beckers.

I didn't know about cartons being more of a hassle but I was definitely thinking in terms of the plastic jugs. It's pretty much what most of the rest of North America uses. Granted, that's a huge assumption on my part but it's what I've gathered in my experiences.

I guess they do take up quite a bit more physical space though.

[st7860]

terms of the plastic jugs. .

I almost didn't see the word plastic the first time i read that.

[jayk]

for plastic bags, I just save them up in a big plastic bag in the garage and then when it's full, take them in my trunk and dump in the big containers for plastic bags in supermarkets, very convenient since a lot of supermarkets do this now. Except I still have yet to see Loblaws recycle plastic bags...