Tag Archives: recycling

Grain bag recycling program extended

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Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced funding of $100,000 to extend the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project into 2014.  The announcement was made April 16.

The program includes recycling for both grain bags and twine.

“The high level of farmer participation in this project demonstrates the importance of responsibly disposing grain bags,” said Ritz.  “Our government is proud to continue to partner with the Government of Saskatchewan to support this program for producers.”

“We are pleased to extend the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project until a permanent program is implemented,” Stewart said.  “With increasing use of grain bags to store the record crop from last year’s harvest, we want farmers to continue to have an option to responsibly dispose of their bags.”

The Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project was first implemented in March 2011.  Since inception, approximately 325,800 kg of plastic (2,172 bags) and 6,600 kg of twine has been recycled.

Recycling grain storage bagsThe Ministry of Environment is currently working on the creation of regulations that will form the basis for an industry-led, permanent recycling program for 2015.  The Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project is administered by Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. (formerly the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards) and funded through the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 framework.

“Simply Agriculture Solutions looks forward to continuing to provide an environmentally responsible solution for the disposal of the grain bags and twine and working with producers across the province as we incorporate additional plastics (silage plastic and net wrap) into the pilot program,” Agricultural Plastic Recycling Co-ordinator Travis Quirk said.

Farmers and ranchers can access collection sites across the province in a number of locations, including Unity, SK.

For more information, producers can contact Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. toll-free at 1-866-298-7222.

Town imposed environmental fees going up in 2014

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The Town of Unity passed a new bylaw Jan. 28, increasing the environmental levy fees for residents and businesses.

Town of UnityResidents will see a modest increase of $1 per month, paying $18 every three months, up from $15 per quarter.

The minimum businesses will pay is also $18 per quarter, but businesses deemed to be medium or high use recyclers will see significant increases. To qualify for theminimum fee of $18 per quarter levy, businesses need to have only one to two bags of recyclables per week.

Businessesw ith three to four bags of recyclables a week fall into the medium category and will be charged $126 per quarter. Five or more bags of recyclables per week puts a business into the high category. These businesses will pay $270 per quarter, or over $1,000 annually.

All businesses should have received a letter from the Town of Unity advising them of the changes and of their category. Business owners or managers who disagree with the category decided by the town can appeal.

An appeal form was included with the letters sent to businesses. To make an appeal, the business must fill out the form and give facts and reasons for their request to be in a lower category than the one assigned by the town. Appeal forms must be returned to the town office before March 3.

Businesses who have their own contracts with recyclers will still have to pay the minimum charge of $18 per quarter.

For now, the town will continue to use the community Loraas bins as its recycling method. Administrator Aileen Garrett said that could still change and a town owned recycling building in the future has still not been ruled out.

Should the new environmental fees create a profit for the town, Garrett said the money would be transferred to a reserve for the future. She noted, however, “if our recycling program is abused, additional costs are incurred as the town is penalized.”

Not only does Loraas charge a penalty if bins are contaminated with non-recyclables, but when garbage is left at the bin site, town employees have to be paid and have to take time from their regular duties to clean it up.

Next week’s paper

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Which local resident recently won a provincial Award of Merit? Find out on page 2 of next week’s paper. Also coming up in the October 21 Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald:

  • tying in to Saskatchewan’s Waste Reduction Week, which runs October 21 to 27, an explanation from the Town of Unity, public works department, as to what exactly can go in the recycling bins and what can’t;
  • a report on the Unity Lazers Midget AA team’s opening games;
  • and, with everyone hoping the Riders show what they can do against the B.C. Lions tomorrow, next week’s Top 10, found on the back page of the paper, features Grey Cup trivia!
Unity Midget AA Lazers

Unity Midget AA Lazers skate to the bench for a mini-celebration after scoring a goal in a game against the Prince Albert Raiders Oct. 12

Waste Reduction Week coming up

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Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff has proclaimed October 21-27 as Waste Reduction Week in Saskatchewan, marking the 13th time the province has joined the nation in recognizing the week.

With an emphasis on engaging Canadians, Waste Reduction Week aims to inspire communities throughout the province and across the country to take a more conscientious approach toward the protection, preservation and enhancement of our environment.

“Saskatchewan has some of the most effective and successful recycling programs in the country,” Cheveldayoff said.  “Thanks to our recycling programs for used beverage containers, oil, tires, paint and electronics, more than 48,000 tonnes and 19 million litres of waste materials were diverted from our landfills in 2012.  However, there is still more to do when it comes to reducing waste and increasing recycling habits.”

“Too Good to Waste”, the theme for Waste Reduction Week, aligns with the government’s growth plan to sustain economic growth while protecting the environment and maintaining Saskatchewan’s excellent quality of life.

“We’re thrilled that the Ministry of Environment has proclaimed Waste Reduction Week,” Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council Executive Director Joanne Fedyk said.  “Waste Reduction Week is a great opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and to adopt new waste-reducing habits so that we can work toward a waste-free Saskatchewan.”

Waste Reduction Week in Saskatchewan is organized by the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council.  For more information, visit www.saskwastereduction.ca.

Recycling in Unity

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The Town of Unity used to have a building designated as a recycling centre, where residents and businesses brought their recyclables. Recyclables had to be sorted and separated to be dropped off — plastic, milk jugs, milk cartons, cardboard, tin, glass and so on. Sometimes town staff had to do some additional sorting as well as looking after baling and selling or ortherwise disposing of the collected items.

When the building was condemned and had to be torn down, the present bin system, just west of the town’s public works building, was set up. Soon, the number of bins was increased to the current 22, and Loraas Environmental Services Ltd. had to be contracted to come twice a week rather than weekly. Recyclables no longer need to be sorted except for glass which is still handled by the town.

The bin system was always intended to be a temporary measure. Now the question has arisen – does Unity stay with the present system OR build a new recycling depot and manage it themselves OR move to curbside pickup, contracted to Loraas?

garbage outside recycling bin

One of the problems with the present bin recycling system in Unity is the unsightliness resulting from people leaving garbage in the area.

A public meeting was hosted by Unity town council July 4 and opinions were mixed on the options. The business community, in particular, is very concerned about the increased costs of curbside pickup. Next week, former councillor Erik Hansen will be presenting some facts and figures to town council on a town-managed recycling depot.

No decision has yet been made. If you have an opinion, be sure to let others know. Write a letter to the editor of the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald, discuss it with your friends, tell a town councillor, ask to make a presentation to the council and/or leave a comment by clicking on reply (at beginning of post) which we will pass on to Mayor Sylvia Maljan.

(Further information on past, present and possible future recycling in the Town of Unity is in the July 15 and July 22 issues of The Press-Herald.)