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Reminder about Recycling Old Batteries and Light Bulbs

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

We now have two containers for old batteries and certain types of old light bulbs in the garage. Education Committee members monitor these containers and take them to be properly recycled.

Batteries

  • Everything except car batteries can go in the plastic bin labelled Batteries in the garage

Light Bulbs we can recycle

  • Compact fluorescent bulbs – go in the box labelled “Light Bulbs” in the garage

Light bulbs we cannot recycle

  • Incandescent light bulbs (regular old fashioned bulbs) or halogen light bulbs – these can go directly into our garbage bins

  • Fluorescent tubes no longer than 4 feet in length – you must take these to a designated fire hall. A maximum of three (3) fluorescent tubes can be taken to a *designated fire hall

  • Fluorescent tubes longer than 4 feet in length and/or more than three (3) tubes need to go to one of the city’s free **Throw 'n' Go landfill areas

*Our closest designated fire halls are:

  • Vista Heights Fire Station #4 (1991 - 18 Avenue NE)

  • Varsity Fire Station #17 (3740 32 Avenue NW)

**Free Throw 'n' Go landfill areas:

  • East Calgary Landfill (68 Street and 17 Avenue SE)

  • Shepard Landfill (12111 Avenue & 68 Street SE)

  • Spyhill Landfill (69 Street and 112 Avenue NW)

To find out how to recycle other things, go to What Goes Where Calgary https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/A-to-Z-Listing.aspx

February Recycling Tip: Automotive Chemicals

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of the Education Committee

It is quite icy out there! A reminder that there are some gravel bins available around the co-op to make our walkways a little less slippery. As well, the city has made its sand-salt mixture (called pickle) available for free again this year. There are a number of pickup locations around the city that can be found at this website: 

https://www.calgary.ca/transportation/roads/road-maintenance/snow-and-ice-control/sanding-material-pick-up-locations.html

I think the closest location to us is at the EMS station off of Memorial Drive (1940 Westmount Blvd NW).

Additionally, this month's recycling tip is about automotive chemicals like motor oil, transmission fluid, or coolant. These cannot be dealt with in our garbage, recycling, or composting receptacles. They are disposed of free of charge at hazardous waste drop off locations, either a designated fire hall, or the landfill's throw and go area. Just bring it in a sealed, spill-proof container and label it. https://www.calgary.ca/uep/wrs/what-goes-where/chemicals-automotive.html


May Recycling Tip

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of the Education Committee

As we emerge from winter and begin cleaning our yards, this is a reminder that pretty much all of that yard waste goes into the green bin! That includes:

    Leaves, cones, needles and berries

    Plants, tree fruits and flowers

    Branches, twigs and hedge prunings

    Grass clippings, sod and weeds

    Garden soil and untreated mulch

    Hay, straw and coconut planter liners

If you are wondering about disposable gloves and face masks, they all go into the dumpster as garbage!

This includes:

-          All types of mask

-          Rubber gloves

-          Latex gloves

-          Plastic gloves

-          Nitrile gloves

-          Dishwashing gloves

The city’s landfills are still open, but are not accepting cash payments. Additionally, the City of Calgary's Green Cart compost giveaway for 2020 has been indefinitely postponed.

-The Education Committee

Tip: What Kind of Garbage Bag Should You Use?

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

Garbage tip:
Should you use biodegradable and/or compostible bags (instead of regular plastic bags) for your black cart garbage?

You would think compostable and biodegradable plastic bags would be more environmentally friendly, right? Turns out – not so much…

From https://sustainabilitysaturday.com:
“Landfills do not allow biodegradable or compostable bags to break down as intended, and it takes 2.7 times more energy to produce compostable bags than traditional plastic bags.”

The article also mentions that, in landfills, these bags break down by anaerobic (without oxygen) digestion which releases methane. Methane is approximately 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Compostable bags in composting facilities break down by aerobic digestion – with oxygen.

And more: “Trash bags labeled as biodegradable and degradable are often plastic bags with additives that break the plastic into tiny pieces. These pieces can be harmful to the environment and difficult to clean up.”

So what is best to use for household garbage that you put in your black cart:
“you should support the plastic recycling industry by purchasing trash bags made from recycled plastic.”

An FYI from Grounds

Submitted by Pamela Boyd

“Willful waste makes woeful want.”

As a result of our very successful recycling and composting habits we are showing a marked decrease in garbage and need for the big garbage bins. At last week’s General Meeting, membership voted in Ground’s new waste disposal plan. On January 4 the city will be taking away our big garbage bins and BluPlanet will be delivering new, smaller garbage bins along with larger recycling bins and larger compost bins. Each garbage enclosure will contain; 1 garbage bin, 2 recycling bins, 1 compost bin - which will all fit in the existing enclosures. Additionally there will be two big recycling bins; one at the bottom of Sunnyhill Lane and one by the garage. So….when you find there is not enough room in the bin for your stuff, you can find a bigger recycling bin either at the bottom of Sunnyhill Lane or by the garage. Please use them. Remember, Blue Planet charges us an additional fee for any recycling left outside the bin, or for boxes not collapsed.

And then there’s Christmas - you may want to save up your recycling till the new bins arrive on January 4th. We don’t want to be charged for a Christmas mess just as we’re about to make things better.


 

 



Our BluPlanet recycling guy Nelson Berlin

Submitted by Pamela Boyd

From the Green Calgary Association newsletter:

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This week, your Every Action Counts - Action Ambassador is Nelson Berlin, BluPlanet Recycling

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Nelson Berlin is the Business Development Manager at BluPlanet Recycling. His passion for sustainability and social change drove him to join the organization straight out of university 5 years ago. This passion and the corporate mission of BluPlanet push their aligned goals of changing how we view waste in Calgary and Canada. He believes that as Canadians we need to strive to not only be better at directing our waste to the right outlets but reducing our consumption and wasteful behaviour.​

On the weekends you can find Nelson and his wife roaming the mountains in search of new hikes and scrambles or at the shared woodshop space (Fuse 33) building custom furniture for their small condo.

Nelson talks about keeping plastics out of the compost. 

Nelson shows how to separate your recyclables. 

Thank you for reading!

How will you take action this week? Let us know on social media using #EveryActionCounts, or email us: lex@greencalgary.org

Green Calgary is a charity that delivers award-winning environmental education.

Your donations support our important work in the community, including:

Educating more than 10,000 children and youth each yearConnecting with more than 60,000 Calgarians in person each year at events and education programsProviding access to online resources for more than 150,000 people each year Please donate.

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