Staff recommends pilot recycling project become permanent
In a report presented to the Committee of the Whole on April 4, David Kerr, manager for environmental services, recommended council approve a permanent bulky plastic recycling program (BPRP) for Kawartha Lakes.
In the first year of a pilot run in 2022 the program has diverted 70 tonnes of bulk plastic from the Lindsay Ops site saving the city $180,000 worth of landfill space now able to take other forms of waste.
Bulk plastic is a catch-all term for products like lawn chairs, damaged recycling/waste bins, toys, laundry hampers, hangers and more that before 2022 were traditionally dumped at the tipping face.
“These (products) needlessly took up valuable space and shortened the lifespan of our landfills,” Kerr said.
Kerr told council that when the pilot program was approved in 2021 it was hoped that a BPRP could divert at least 40 tonnes of bulk plastic from the Lindsay Ops site. Kerr explained that 40 tonnes of bulk plastics would occupy 980 square meters of landfill space. In that 980 square meters the city could pack 685 tonnes of normal residential waste. Each tonne of landfill space available is valued at $150, hence the hoped for savings in the first year were calculated at about $100,000.
The first year of the pilot project gained widespread public acceptance and 40 predicted tonnes became 70 actual tonnes diverted from being buried at Lindsay Ops. This freed up 1,715 square meters of landfill space that could accommodate 1,198 tonnes of waste saving the city $180,000 instead of only $100,000.
“We are gaining landfill site life from diverting this waste stream,” Kerr said, “and the long-term savings far out weigh the cost of the program (approximately $55,000 to purchase, move and regularly sort three large roll-off bins in the first year).”
Kerr said that the cost of continuing this project and making it permanent will only reap more positive results for the city in space saved at local landfills sites.
“In 2023 we expect more bulk plastic at landfills reflective of the overall rise in bulk plastic manufactured and sold to the public,” Kerr said. “(Moving forward) the more volume of bulk plastic being recycled will only make the long-term savings greater for the municipality.”
The report was accepted by council, and it is expected that the BPRP will be made permanent at the next council meeting on April 18.
Very little plastic is recycled (approx 5%) — so where is it going ? My guess would be on to a shipping container destined for China so they can dump it in the ocean. Side note– the recycling program is pushed by oil companies because they know very little plastic actually gets re-used . But they want us to feel good about buying plastic items.
I heartily agree with respondent,Wallace. Where is all this “bulk plastic” going?
With so many people looking for work, why are there not recycling plants springing up to create more jobs and bolster local economies?
With so many “greenies” decrying the state of our planet and the atmosphere, where is their constructive input? You can be loud but put your money where your mouth is!
Jim B
The problem is that its impossible to recycle/reuse the vast majority of plastic. We’ve been lied to for decades about recycling.