Return It.” Some cities, like Calgary have single stream recycling: all recycling, including glass and plastic bags, can be placed together in curbside pick up where it is sorted at the depot by a combination of people and automated machines. But on Vancouver Island not all of these items can be placed in the blue bin (see sidebar) and the onus is on consumers to be the sorters. If you’re having trouble seeing the advantage, it’s that we can clearly see how much waste we’re actually generating. The pre-sorting process is important – too many of us opt for the sort later approach which simply means borrowing time in the future. As my mom always said: “There’s no time like the present.” So, sort it out now. At Island Return It, they request people pre-sort and count their refundables before they arrive. It’s much quicker then sorting them in your trunk, and there’s no space inside the building for sorting. COVID-19 highlights the need for us to consider the safety of others. Pre-sorting means less handling for the staff. In South Cowichan where I live, curbside pick up only takes away mixed paper, cardboard, plastic containers, beverage cups, lids and metal cans. That leaves me to sort and take to Island Return It in Duncan, refundable beverage cans, refundable and nonrefundable glass, soft stretchy plastic and non-stretchy crinkly plastic. I also need a bin within my home to store my curbside pick-up items. Considering all the categories, we need about six storage bins. Storage Recycling Options If you have a good recycling home storage system, it makes the sorting process a breeze. After doing some research on home recycling storage, I realized that the best way to create a neat and organized environment is uniformity and clear labeling. One simple idea, depending on how much daily recycling you generate, is to stack everything in one or two central bins in the
house, usually in a corner of the kitchen, and then designate two days a week for separating them in stackable bins in the garage. It’s a great chore for kids and gives them a good sense of how much recycling their families are generating. Many stores sell various stackable options, some with lids and some without. Because we don’t have a garage, we need a series of bins in the kitchen. My favourite option is concealing taller recycling bins in an upcycled kitchen cabinet. Simply label interior bins so all family members are clear about where things go. Smaller items such as batteries can be stored in a square basket within the top drawer of the cabinet. When recycling containers are full, pack them into the trunk of your vehicle and head over to the depot or Island Return It. Two other options which hide the recycling away: a two tiered cabinet with pull-out baskets, and a storage bench with a lid in which recycling bins can be stored. Some homeowners also have a miscellaneous container for recyclable odds and ends. It surprised me to find out that you can also recycle smoke alarms, small appliances, power tools, CDs and electric toothbrushes at Island Return It. For a more open system you can try stackable bins with or without lids which often work for vertical spaces in laundry rooms or beside pantry cupboards. Installing a single shelf along one wall also allows you to store some recycling containers on the floor and others on the shelf. You can also repurpose an old filing cabinet to hold recyclables. The surge in global household and medical generated waste from our COVID-19 experience highlights the need for responsible citizenship and draws attention to our consumer habits. More than ever it’s important to rise to the challenge of managing our waste. Sorting and storing it with a little more care and innovation is a good place to start. Then we can perhaps see with more clarity where we can actually reduce.
Valleyview
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1400 Cowichan Bay Rd Wellness
Food Country Grocer 250 743-5639 Bakery, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Deli & Floral, Supplements
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FAIZAL CHARANIA
Licensed Real Estate Consultant RE/MAX of Duncan - Mill Bay 472 Trans Canada Highway Office: 250.748.7200 www.faizal.charania.remax.ca • Residential • Agri Business • Strata I mobile (250) 732.5250 65
