Over the holidays, how much waste we produce rises by 25% or more. It’s in all of our best interests to keep as much stuff as possible out of our local landfill. Doing so will help extend our landfill life, keep taxes low, and help reduce chemicals going into the environment. So what are some ways we can cut waste in the next few days?
- Reduce: Avoid buying/cooking more than you need. Make one less menu item. Skip those last-minute gifts.
- Be organized: Plan your meals, and set up and label bins for various types of recyclables/trash before you start opening gifts: clean paper/cardboard, recyclable plastic/glass/cans, reusable items such as gift bags/bows/ribbon, and trash.
- Reduce: Avoid single-use items, especially ones made of plastic (plastic cups, plates, cutlery, straws, etc.).
- Read the lid on your recycling bin: It spells out what’s ok and what’s not. Know and follow these rules.
- Keep it clean: Rinse recyclable plastic, glass, and metal containers before placing in the recycling bin. Keep dirty paper/cardboard out of your paper recycling bin (rinse coffee cups and tear off soiled parts of pizza boxes).
- Remove caps and lids: Caps/lids for containers like water bottles, peanut butter jars, and detergent bottles are not recyclable. Toss them.
- When in doubt, don’t: Wishcycling — placing a non-recyclable item in a recycling bin — is not helpful. Too much contamination can result in an entire load of recyclables being rejected. If you are not sure an item is recyclable, toss it (or better yet, reuse it).
- Toss plastic bags/food containers: Soft plastics such as plastic bags and bubble wrap are not recyclable in Sault Ste. Marie and can even damage sorting machinery (Metro at Churchill Plaza and next to Value Village will take them). Plastic food containers, even those marked 1 and 2, are not recyclable here.
- Toss or reuse anything with glitter/other plastic decorations: Glitter is plastic, so any glitter-bedecked paper products (greeting cards, gift wrap, etc.) can’t be recycled. Most fancy gift bags can’t be recycled so save to reuse or give away.
- Part plastic from paper: Remove plastic part of cardboard packaging (plastic bags, clear plastic sheets/wrap) before recycling.
- Avoid food waste: In the landfill, organic matter such as food waste gives off methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Get creative to avoid food waste — try turkey and stuffing quiche or mashed potato pancakes instead of throwing leftovers in the trash. Or share leftovers with a friend or relative who may not have time or ability to cook for themselves.
- Take care with hazardous waste: Broken glass (including ornaments) and old Christmas lights cannot be recycled. Seal broken glass in a box or wrap in paper to cushion sharp edges and place in your trash bin. Old Christmas lights may have lead in them so put in a plastic bag and save until the city’s hazardous waste depot opens in the spring.
- Recycle your tree: Clean North is accepting real Christmas trees at Cambrian Mall (parking lot near Winners) from Boxing Day until January 9. The trees will be chipped into garden mulch and distributed next summer.
What about stuff? With all the new gift items in the house, it’s tempting to clear the decks and toss older items. Please try to find a good home for as many items as possible rather than throwing things away. Try Helping Hands, the Soup Kitchen Community Centre, St. Vincent Place, the Bargain Box, Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. Staples and Best Buy will take old electronics. Got surplus food? Try Harvest Algoma.
Happy holidays, and thank you for trying to help reduce waste in our city!
