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Toronto neighbourhoods that have been
using the City’s new Blue Bins for several months are recycling
from 10 to 15 per cent more, according to Solid Waste Management
Services. Scarborough residents, first to receive the Blue Bins,
are using the extra capacity provided by the new bins to put
more items out for recycling.
The larger sizes of the new Blue Bins are also a boon when it
comes to adding potential new materials to be recycled. The City
is issuing a request for proposals in the next few weeks to
investigate markets for polystyrene and plastic film. Successful
responses could mean that these materials would be added to the
recycling program in November. Solid Waste Management Services
indicated that new materials could not be added to the program
until residents were provided with larger bins.
"It’s terrific to see that more items are headed for recycling
instead of landfill," said Public Works and Infrastructure
Committee Chair, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. "Toronto
residents have proven over and over that, given the right tools,
they are avid and committed recyclers."
Increasing recycling was one of the three goals the City hoped
to achieve in introducing the new Blue Bins on wheels. The other
two goals - improving efficiency and reducing staff injuries -
are also showing promise. The roll-out of the new Blue Bins is
part of the City’s overall new approach to waste management.
Residents of single-family homes will, over the next few months,
also receive new Garbage Bins and be introduced to a new billing
practice that will charge residents for the amount of garbage
that they produce starting November 1.
The revenue generated by the new system will fund significant
new diversion initiatives designed to drive the City’s overall
diversion rate to 70 per cent. Some of these new initiatives
include bringing Green Bin organics collection to apartments and
condominiums, introducing new recycling materials and creating a
new curbside reuse/recycling program for household durable goods
such as mattresses, furniture and electronics. The new bin-based
system for garbage and recycling will also make collection more
efficient across the city.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government,
and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It
is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and
most creative cities in North America. In the past three years,
Toronto has won more than 70 awards for quality, innovation and
efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government
is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all
its residents.
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