Growing up, several decades ago as a kid in the GTA, one of my chores was to “take the garbage out” on “garbage day.” One, two, or even more bags were dutifully carried to the end of the driveway to be picked up the following morning. There were no tags, green bins or blue bins. Everything went into the garbage bag – paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, food waste; and it was all taken away. Yard waste? Burn it in your back yard. Simple, yet notoriously bad for the environment.
Fortunately, we have come a long way since the days of bell bottom jeans, gas-guzzling cars, and massive landfills. Municipalities now have separate streams for the various “waste” products produced by the average household. Blue boxes, green carts, and paper yard waste bags line the street along with the traditional black bags. Homeowners diligently sort and separate their waste, striving to place it in the appropriate bins. Organics? Green Cart. Paper? Blue Box. Yard waste? Paper yard waste bag or open, labelled, reusable, rigid container (no lid). Simple, and better for the environment.
However, there are still some items that are difficult to figure out:
- Coffee cups?
- Paper towel?
- AA Batteries?
Well, there’s an app for that!
Put Waste In Its Place Sorting Tools
Halton Region can help with its website, app or Waste Management Guide and Collection calendar.
These tools make sorting a breeze. Not only does it help the homeowner, but also Halton Region and by extension, our environment. Using the tools also helps to reduce ‘wishcycling’ where one disposes waste in the recycling bin in hopes of it being recycled, even though it cannot be. Improperly placed items can contaminate the other recyclable material which then causes it to be sent to Halton Waste Management Site.
According to Halton Region, about 45 per cent of the average bag of garbage in Halton could have been recycled or composted. For those of you doing your part – well done! And for those who could use a little help, please have a look at the website, consider downloading the app, or place the waste management guide and collection calendar next to your bins so we can all help “Put Waste In Its Place.”
So, back to my original questions as to where coffee cups, paper towels and AA batteries go if you live in Halton? I used the “Put Waste In Its Place” tool and I found out the following:
- Coffee cups (Styrofoam) – Garbage
- Coffee cups (paper) – Green Cart – try to tear them to be sure. If they tear, Green Cart. If they don’t, garbage.
- Coffee cup lids – Blue Box
- Coffee cup sleeves – Green Cart
- Paper towels – Green Cart
- AA batteries – There is no curbside collection of batteries. Take them to a battery recycling depot near you, hang onto them for a special waste drop off event, or drop off at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Halton Waste Management Site.
Take Action Burlington! Put waste in its place. Collectively we can make a difference.
This post was provided by Jim, a member of the Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee.
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