The
2016
PAGE 2 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
More people than ever are aware that certain behaviors can be detrimental to environmental health. You may understand the basics about overflowing landfills, waste washing up on beaches or global climate change, but you may not be aware of the specifics regarding these issues and others. The following are some enlightening facts about the environment, courtesy of EarthEcho International and Solar Energy World. 1. Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a TV for three hours. 2. Around 25,000 trees are cut down each day just to produce toilet paper. 3. Approximately five million tons of oil produced in the world each year ends up in the ocean. 4. Seventy-eight percent of marine mammals are threatened by accidental deaths, such as getting caught in fishing nets. 5. A glass bottle can take 4,000 years to decompose. 6. Rainforests are being cut down at a rate of 100 acres per minute. 7. The United States is the No. 1 trash-producing country in the world. 8. Ford Motor Company has said that 75 percent of every vehicle is recyclable. 9. If the entire world lived like the average American, we’d need five planets to provide enough resources.
Planning for the future of our garbage The Advisory Committee is made While most of us may not spend up of stakeholders from the regions much time thinking about where municipalities, waste haulers, large our garbage goes, it may give you commercial stakeholders, citizens some peace of mind to know that and RDCO staff. The group has met there are a group of community five times now with a consultant, members who are volunteering Morrison Hershfield, to come up with their time to do just that. a new plan. As part of updating the Central “The consultants have evaluated Okanagan’s Solid Waste Managethe current system we have and the ment Plan, a Public Technical Committee has rated a number of fuAdvisory Committee has been ture options or strategies for managmeeting to discuss options for ing waste in the region” says Coates. managing waste in the region for “Now a draft plan will be put togeththe next five to 15 years. The comer and the proposed options will be mittee is considering a number of brought to the community for public options based on the 3R’s waste hiconsultation. This fall we plan to host erarchy of reduce, then reuse, then recycle as well as how to best The Regional District of the Central Okanagan says its open houses to get feedback, as well manage our residual waste left solid waste management plan is a blueprint to reduce as engage our residents online too. the amount of waste going to the Glenmore landfill. It will be exciting to see what the pubover. “Ultimately, the Solid Waste Management lic thinks and the kinds of programs they Under provincial regulations, the RDCO is required to have a Solid Plan is a blueprint for us to reduce the would like to support.” If you would like to see what has been hapWaste Management Plan and update amount of waste going to our one and only it regularly. The plan will identify key landfill,” says Waste Reduction Facilitator pening to date on the Solid Waste Manageprograms that will help achieve the Cynthia Coates. “We need to keep reviewing, ment Plan and find out more info on future learning and implementing new programs to opportunities to give feedback , go online to plans targets and goals. help reach our goal of less waste.” regionaldistrict.com/garbagefuture.
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PAGE 3 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
How we can expand the 3 R’s of recycling suitable before delivering them down to the shop. Use your best judgment when placing valuable items with another and always get the particulars in writing. Another important piece of advice is to divulge all the information you have on the item. An informed shop owner is a beneficial selling tool. Regardless of the information being good or bad, give the shop owner all the information you have, hide nothing. Give them the manufacturer, when & where you bought it, for how much. Did you get it second hand or new? Was there any smoking or pets in the house? All this information is important in order to sell the item quickly and for the best possible returns. People like buying a “story” with their items. Recycling has been around for ever, but today there are many more options to consider. The time has come to expand the traditional definition of the “3-R’s” (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to include these other options to further reduce the carbon footprints we leave on this lovely planet we call our home.
By SCOTT MCKINNON For years, the mantra for recycling has been the 3-R’s; Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle. These have been very good words to help describe ways for us to lower our carbon footprint on the planet. Obviously, if we reduce what we use up in the world on a day-to-day basis and shop for products that reduce the amount of packaging they use to get those products to us safely, then we are having an immediate impact on the waste we generate. When we can re-use an item, rather than get out a new one every time, then our consumption levels go down, saving money and the resources needed to make the new one. Finally, recycling is the best way to give a new life to something we no longer have need for. Paper and packaging are great examples of items that can get recycled into other useful things we need without having to cut down more trees. Today, however there are other ‘R’s’ we can consider adding to the list of recycling “R’s.” Repurpose Let’s consider “Repurpose” as a fundamental way to recycle. Taking something that was intended for one purpose and using to achieve another task is not only smart, but quite ingenious as well. Making new uses for the things you don’t need anymore can give you a great sense of fulfillment knowing you kept something out of the landfill and solved a problem you would likely have to had to spend money on. Turn an old milk jug into a bailer scoop for your boat, or how about those kitty-litter buckets into stackable storage containers for Christmas decor? Re-Gifting Another great idea to add to the recycling mantra is “Re-Gifting.” How many of us get gifts at Christmas or for our birthdays that we look at and say to ourselves: “I’m never going to use that.” It ends up on a shelf in the closet collecting dust, because we feel obligated to keep it because it was a gift. If you receive a gift, it is for you to decide how best to use it. If you know you will never use it, it is OK if you decide to re-gift the item to someone else who will appreciate it or enjoy it more than you. You can save money purchasing a gift for someone else and save space in the back of your closet for something more important to you, like perhaps clothing. Resale Speaking of clothing, many people are aware of the concept of putting their items up for “Re-sale” at a clothing consignment shop (especially if it doesn’t fit anymore, or
Resale, such as selling unused old lamps, is one way to help recycle.
it’s not your style anymore). Clothing is not before lugging around large or valuable the only thing people can consign in today’s pieces. Most shops will want you to email photos of your items to determine if they will be world. Check your local listings to see what other consignment shops are in your area. You can find consignment stores that handle good quality furniture and home decor, adding the R-word “Re-Furnish” to the list. you can also consign quality sporting goods and equipment allowing you to “Re-outfit” your gear at substantial savings and get rid of the items you or your kids may have outgrown. When considering consignment shops as a viable recycling option, consider a few of these steps to ensure it goes smoothly. First, contact your favourite shop to learn how they operate. Ask when the best time to Amend your soil naturally bring in your items is. Knowing when to with locally-made OgoGrow bring in seasonal items will get you the fastest compost. Safe, effective and sale for the best price. Do they have the cusenvironmentally-friendly. tomers who will want what you have to sell? Shop owners and managers can give you a good idea of the items they have the most demand for at that time of year. Consigning furniture and antiques is a little more complicated than consigning clothing. However, the basic rules remain the OgoGrow is available at local nurseries. same. Furniture and antiques should be in Wholesale purchases of five yards or more can be the best possible condition when presented made at 551 Commonage Road in Vernon to the consigning shop. They should be clean, sturdy and preferably in perfect condition. or the Glenmore Landfill in Kelowna. Remember, your piece will sell for what it is worth at the time of consignment. Tightening a few bolts or touching-up with a bit of paint can really make a difference in pricing. Furniture and sports equipment consignors should contact their shop of choice for inforokanagancompost.ca 250 469-8868 mation on acceptance procedures and hours,
When you add compost you add life.
City of Kelowna
City of Vernon
PAGE 4 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Your recycling cart: When in doubt, check it out Ever have the recycle argument in your home? One person says no, that doesn’t go in the recycle cart, another says yes it does, and in it goes anyway—even though neither of you are really sure? Well it seems to happen more often than not, because according to local waste audit data from our collector and processor Multi Material B.C. , there’s a lot of stuff landing in the recycling carts that shouldn’t, and it’s what those in the waste industry call contamination, sometimes even devaluing the good stuff that’s in there. What exactly is contamination? It’s material not accepted for collection in your curbside cart—material that isn’t packaging, isn’t recyclable at this time, doesn’t have any viable end market or should be recycled at a depot. It can be obvious things like garbage in the recycle cart, hazardous waste, electronics, yard waste, or less obvious things like plastic bags, glass and Styrofoam which belong at depots. So why is it a problem when you toss something in your cart that is not part of the curbside recycling program?
To learn more about recycling, Download the RDCO’s myWaste App from iTunes or Google Play, visit www.regionaldistrict.com/recycle
Well first off, certain types of contamination can present significant health and safety issues for both collection and post collection staff, glass for one. But tossing the wrong
thing in the cart also reduces the overall commodity value of recyclables. Hazardous material such as medical sharps, propane tanks and flammable liquids and batteries can be extremely dangerous when collected with traditional recyclables such as your milk cartons and newspapers, and in some cases have even caused fires in processing facilities in B.C. In some cases, material may be recyclable, but isn’t well suited to being mixed with other recyclables in the curbside program. For example, plastic bags/overwrap when mixed with other recyclables gets caught in processing machinery, breaks into small pieces and ultimately downgrades the value of other rigid plastics and paper products.
Collecting plastic bags and overwrap at depots helps ensure more of all types of material can be recycled and sold to end markets in North America. What are some of the primary offenders that land in the recycling cart when they shouldn’t? -Plastic bags and overwrap -Glass food jars -Styrofoam -Hard and soft cover books, like textbooks and novels -Standup pouches such as frozen fruit and veggie packaging - Paper bags with a foil liner, some coffee and pet food bags -Cereal bags, cling wrap, zipper bags -Waxed corrugated cardboard, typically used at grocery stores -Ceramics, plates, bowls, drinking glasses, mirrors -Scrap metal -Electronics, small appliances -Wood -Residue and garbage -Durable plastics, like toys, hangers, Tupperware, -Textiles, clothing and rags -Organics and yard waste -Construction waste There are a number of ways to determine if an item is recyclable and where it should go. Download the RDCO’s myWaste App from iTunes or Google Play, visit www.regionaldistrict.com/recycle or call the Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250. You can also call the BC Recycling Hotline at 1800-667-4321. When in doubt, check it out.
What type of recycler are you? Find out with My Waste app
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Technology innovation over the last few years has brought mankind many things – some good, and some not so good. One unintended consequence is shrinking attention spans. According to a 2015 report by the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information, the amount of concentrated time we spend on a task without becoming distracted is now down to 8.25 seconds – lower than the attention span of a goldfish (9 seconds)! While the preferred solution to this situation is to slow down and avoid distractions, most of us simply aren’t able to do so. The alternative is to make finding the information we need easier and faster. That’s where the Regional District of Central Okanagan comes in. The My Waste app helps you quickly find what you need to know about waste and recycling, and asks the provocative question ‘What type of recycler are you?’
This 3-minute quiz provides you with a comprehensive evaluation based on several criteria, including knowledge about what should and should not be recycled in the Central Okanagan. Another popular feature is reminders – how cool is it to get a helpful reminder the evening before recycling pick-up? Residents can also set a reminder for any of the Waste Reduction Office’s events, such as the Trunk Sale and Repair Café. Have you ever wondered how to get rid of or recycle an item? If so, you’re not alone, and the ‘What Goes Where?’ search tool is a dream come true – it is simple to use and provides instant access to local recycling and disposal information for any material. The My Waste app is free to download and is available from the iTunes Store and Google Play. For more information about the app, go to regionaldistrict.com/mywasteapp or call the Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250.
PAGE 5 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
What to Recycle Items marked with an are acceptable in the curbside recycling carts and at recycling depots. Items marked with an should be placed in the garbage. Paper Cups & Lids
Frozen Food Packaging
Plastic Containers & Lids
All disposable paper based cups & lids _______________________________ DO NOT INCLUDE Straws
Rinsed, plastic coated boxes such as ice cream cartons
All empty & rinsed household plastic containers with the #1-7 recycling symbols ___________________________________
Aerosol Cans & Caps Hairspray, deodorant, shaving cream, air freshener, food based aerosols Cans must be completely empty _____________________________________
Cartons (plastic coated) Rinsed milk/milk alternative cartons Rinsed soup ‘tetra-pak’ containers ___________________
DO NOT INCLUDE • Spray paint cans (please take to hazardous waste depot) • Propane cylinders (please call for recycling options)
DO NOT INCLUDE Straws Stand-up drink pouches
Aluminum
Tin Cans & Lids
Foil & food containers Empty & rinse Labels are ok ________________________________________
All tin cans, keep lids attached Empty & rinse Labels are ok ________________________________
DO NOT INCLUDE Chip or foil bags Foil wrap from butter or cigarettes
DO NOT INCLUDE • Coat hangers, pots, pans or baking trays (please donate or take to metal recycler)
Paper, Newspaper, Magazines Newspapers, flyers & inserts White & coloured paper & magazines, catalogues, phone books Paper pet food bags (not foil or plastic lined) Shredded paper accepted inside CLEAR plastic bag ______________________________________________________________ DO NOT INCLUDE Carbon paper, used tissue or paper towels, foil gift wrap, ribbons, bows, padded envelopes • Books (please donate)
Depot Only Items:
DO NOT INCLUDE Lawn edging, tarps, plastic furniture or toys or garden hoses • Motor oil or chemical containers (visit www.used oilrecycling.com for drop off locations) PLASTIC BAGS & STYROFOAM must be taken to DEPOT ONLY
Spiral Wound Paper Cans & Lids Frozen juice, coffee cans, nuts, chips, baby formula cans Put lids in cart loose
Microwaveable Paper Containers Single serve soups & other paper bowls ______________________ DO NOT INCLUDE Bowls with metal rims
Cardboard & Boxboard Clean cardboard boxes, pizza boxes etc. Cereal box-type cardboard _______________________ DO NOT INCLUDE Waxed produce boxes
Items marked with an should be placed in the garbage. Styrofoam, plastic bags and glass are not acceptable in curbside recycling carts.
Glass
Styrofoam™
Plastic Bags & Overwrap
Clear or coloured glass jars ______________________ DO NOT INCLUDE Glasses, dishes, cookware, window glass or mirrors Ceramics • Take beverage glass back to depot for deposit refund
Clean meat trays, foam egg cartons, take out containers, cups & bowls Cushion packaging used to protect electronics Separate white from coloured _____________________________
Bags for groceries, dry cleaning, bread, salad, frozen vegetable bags, outer bags for diaper, soft drinks, overwrap on mattresses, furniture & electronics _______________________________
www.recyclinginbc.ca
DO NOT INCLUDE Foam peanuts, packing chips or noodles Blue or pink foam board insulation Shrink wrap for meats
DO NOT INCLUDE Cellophane wrap, stretch or cling wrap Zipper-lock bags Potato chip or snack bags Bubble wrap Biodegradable or compostable plastic bags Plastic shipping envelopes
For more information, visit regionaldistrict.com/recyclemore, or contact the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250.469.6250.
PAGE 6 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Aiming to achieve Zero Waste Have you ever heard the term Zero Waste? It seems like a pretty lofty goal, but adopting a Zero Waste approach to resource management is critical to addressing the problem of waste. According to Zero Waste Canada, “Zero Waste is a philosophy, a target, and it is a call to action that aims to bring an end to the current take, make, and waste mentality of human society.” Our current linear system is not sustainable. We extract resources such as fossil fuels, trees, metal and manufacture them into products that have a limited life. Often the manufacturing process is polluting, toxic and wasteful. The products then often travel great distances for sale and then eventually become waste ending up in a landfill or incinerator. Then we head back to the front of the line for more natural resources like they are in infinite supply. The Zero Waste philosophy looks at everything as a resource in a cyclical system, from preventing waste in the first place through design to recapturing waste and using them to make new products. While this approach does require a community wide approach there are still a number of things that you can do to incorporate this philosophy into your daily lives as well. Here are some great Zero Waste tips: Reduce your food waste. Plan your meals so you know just what to buy, choose locally grown foods grown in a sustainable manner.
Search recipes that will use up your leftovers and compost your food scraps in your backyard using a backyard composter or a food digester. Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse then Recycle. Think about what you are buying: Do you need it? Could you borrow it from someone instead? Can you get it used instead? Is it durable, reusable, repairable? Avoid single use items. Repurpose what you can into something new before it is recycled. Then, finally, recycle what you can. There is a very long list of items that are recyclable beyond what goes in your curbside cart. Check out the RDCO’s myWaste App for your smart phone for a list of “What Goes Where”. Repair. Don’t be too quick to toss a broken or worn out item; you just might be able to fix it. There is a wealth of repair tips on the internet or you could try to take things apart on your own and see if you can figure it out. Sew or patch old clothing, glue pieces back together, repaint or recover old furniture or visit one of RDCO’s Repair Café’s (next one is in November) and learn from a volunteer fixer. Give gifts of experience rather than stuff. Next time it’s your Mom’s birthday why not consider giving her an art class or cooking her favourite meal or taking her to a show. Sometimes experience gifts are the most memorable for both the giver and the receiver.
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Keep the environment in mind when changing motor oil A vehicle’s engine relies on many components to run efficiently, and motor oil is just one of the things that can affect how well engines run. Motor oil serves to reduce wear on moving parts. Oil also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing, and cools the engine by carrying heat away from moving parts. Each manufacturer has its own recommendations for oil-change intervals, but many advise that conventional motor oil be changed every 3,000 miles, while synthetic oils should be changed between every 7,000 to 10,000 miles. Excessive driving, extreme heat and even cold starts can cut down on oil life. Vehicles receive many oil changes over their lifespans, and, as a result, motor oil can have a significant impact on the environment. When not handled responsibly or when discarded improperly, petroleum-based oils can wreak havoc on wildlife, water supplies and more. Eco-conscious motorists can keep the following tips in mind when
changing their vehicles’ motor oil. • Rely on a major oil change chain or service center. Oil change locations generally offer motor oil recycling so the oil can be reused and disposed of properly.These centers also will top off other fluids and give your vehicle a brief inspection, making them quite convenient. • Bring oil to a recycling location. If you perform your own oil changes, be sure to collect all of the drained oil and put it into a canister.Vehicle repair centers generally offer motor oil recycling services and serve as drop-off centers. Check with your municipal recycling center as well, as they may have a motor oil dropoff policy. • Opt for recycled motor oil. Certain brands of motor oil are made from recycled and refined reclaimed motor oil. • Learn about synthetic oils. Synthetic oils can be more effective at lubricating and cooling, and they can be changed less frequently than traditional motor oils. This helps generate less waste.
PAGE 7 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
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PAGE 8 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Digging up dirt on how to properly compost How to get started and how to use finished compost Did you know you have a wide variety of nutrient rich ingredients in your home and around your yard, that, when blended together, can provide you with nature’s best soil amendment for lush lawns, robust flowers and plentiful veggies? Composting your organics right in your own backyard is an easy way to reduce waste going to the landfill and it also produces a wonderful product for your landscape and garden. Composting isn’t difficult once you understand some of the basic steps and you can even speed things up a bit with a few of these tips to get you started. Get yourself a bin of some sort. You can build your own out of a number of materials, pallets, wire, cinder blocks or you can purchase a plastic one. Keep in mind that a bin will help to keep pests out of the compost pile as opposed to just composting in an open pile. Place your bin in a convenient location, on soil or grass and in a partly sunny location. You want to have it easily accessible during the winter for all your kitchen scraps and having it on soil will encourage worms to come up into the pile to help things along. A partly sunny location will help to keep the pile from drying up too fast in the hot Okanagan sun.
Visit the compost education garden at Mission Creek Regional Park to learn more about backyard composting.
Start adding materials. You can start with a woody layer first to create air flow and then start adding layers of brown drier material, with wet green materials. Green material such as fresh grass and plant trimmings and raw fruit and vegetable peelings are quick to
DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN my-waste®app YOU GET: • A personalized collection schedule • Custom collection reminders • A “What Goes Where” search tool • And more! - Visit regionaldistrict.com/mywasteapp Personal Garbage, Recycling & Waste Collection Guide at your fingertips.
rot and provide important nitrogen and moisture to the pile. Browns are drier such as leaves, shredded newspaper, wood chips and cardboard and provide fiber and carbon to the pile, allowing for important air pockets to form. You want to have equal amounts of both. One of the easiest ways to get started is fill your composter with dried leaves, then just keep adding your food waste, plant trimmings and fresh grass all season long. Here is a list of what to compost: Green Materials Fresh fruit and vegetable peelings Coffee grounds, tea bags Egg shells (give them a quick rinse) Fresh grass clippings Plant trimmings Brown Materials Dried leaves Shredded paper (newspaper) Cardboard and paper egg cartons Dried grass, straw Wood shavings
into the pile. Or in very early spring you can dig it into your garden and let the composting process finish up for several weeks before planting. Compost will happen no matter what, but there are certain steps you should take to ensure it’s successful. Here is a list of items you should not compost to avoid attracting pests or introducing pathogens and plant disease into your garden: Don’t Compost: Grains, meat, bones, dairy, fats and oils Table scraps Pet Waste Diseased plants Pesticide treated grass clippings A well-tended compost pile that is stirred often will reduce odours and pests over the long run. If you are concerned about pests you can place strong wire mesh under the compost bin to prevent rodents from burrowing underneath. Sixteen to 18 gauge (that’s the thickness of the wire) with 1/4-inch squares is recommended. Remember to also manage other attractants in your yard to avoid pests and other animals. These can include dog food, dirty bbqs, bird feeders and fallen fruit. Finished compost can be used as a mulch around shrubs and trees, dug into your vegetable or flower beds, mixed with soil in planter boxes or used for top dressing your lawn. It provides slow release nutrients to your garden and also holds moisture so will reduce your water use as well. For more information on composting visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle.
Coffee filters, paper towels, napkins (unbleached) Tend to your pile by mixing the bin contents every 1-to-2 weeks. Mixing adds important air and distributes moisture and heat to speed things up. Contents in the bin should also be like a wrung-out sponge so in our Okanagan heat you may need to add water from time to time, especially if you don’t have a lot of wet food scraps in the mix. Use the compost. Compost can be made in as little as three months, but usually if you start the composter in the spring, expect to have some finished product by the following spring. You can even get two bins going and let one ‘finish up’ while filling the other one. Finished compost is a dark brown almost black soil-like layer, usually found at the bottom of the bin or in the middle. You can screen the compost materials with a homemade wire mesh screen and Wood and wire bins for compostadd the unfinished materials back ing at Mission Creek Regional Park.
PAGE 9 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Help stop illegal dumping by reporting them It’s hard to believe anyone would deliberately spoil our beautiful landscape with illegal dumping. But it happens. Too often. And when it does it leaves behind not only an unsightly mess, but also some ugly ramifications, all avoidable, all costly, and all because someone made a very poor choice on how to get rid of their stuff. Illegal dumping is not just a few bags of garbage strewn about. It can have many different looks, whether it’s someone dumping yard waste where it doesn’t belong, to abandoning vehicles or appliances out in the bush, to dumping leftover renovation waste, or leaving bush party leftovers behind. In every case, something is being tossed where it doesn't belong, and this can have devastating effects. Not only is illegal dumping ugly, it can create wildfire and other environmental hazards. Things like yard waste and grass clippings, although completely natural, can create a fire hazard, a serious problem in our tinder dry climate. Broken glass containers are also a fire concern. Animals that consume this garbage can suffer harm, and oils, chemicals, battery fluids and other hazardous wastes can seep into soil and our watersheds, creating a toxic problem. Costs for illegal dump site cleanup are high. And this is frustrating because:
An example of illegal dumping is this abandoned camper van on Bear Lake Forest Service Road.
It is free for residents to dispose of up to 250 kg of yard waste at the Glenmore landfill and fees are nominal at the Westside Transfer Station. It costs only $2.50 per bag of garbage or, only $10.00 for up to 250 kg (550 lbs) of garbage. Appliances cost $10.00 each to drop off for recycling at the landfill. The cost to have illegal dump sites cleaned up (including fuel and hourly wages to drive
the back roads) to you as a taxpayer far exceeds the few dollars for taking the material to the landfill for proper and safe disposal. Not to mention the financial and societal cost to
d l o h e s u o H s u o d r H a za e W a s t fe
Habitat for Humanity Okanagan Established in 1983, Habitat for Humanity Okanagan is a non-profit, non-denominated housing organization. We welcome people and partners in the community to join us as we build simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with Habitat families. HFH Okanagan empowers families by partnering with them to become homeowners through a no down payment and a no-interest mortgage. HFH Okanagan offers families the opportunity to improve their lives through commitment and partnership in our Homeownership program. What does the Habitat homeownership program mean for local families? What changes does HFH Okanagan make in the lives of Habitat partner families? Housing is a fundamental determinant of health, and poor housing is linked developmental challenges for children and exacerbating physical and mental health problems for parents and children. With a Habitat home, families have room to grow and children have their own rooms with space to do their homework. Children feel safer with order and stability in their home environment and by not having to move every few years. In a stable housing environment HFH
Okanagan partner families have a stronger sense of engagement in their neighbourhoods. There is a sense of pride in both parents and children in where they live. Partner families have reported to us how their children’s self esteem has soared since moving into their Habitat home. For one little boy of an HFH Okanagan partner family, it meant a first birthday party. A party that he was proud to invite all his friends. For HFH Okanagan it is about the children. All children deserve to grow up in a safe, healthy environment and HFH Okanagan helps their parents provide that safe home. All administration costs are covered 100 per cent by Habitat Okanagan ReStores and any surplus revenue is applied to the Okanagan Future Builds fund. We all have an opportunity to be involved with Habitat Okanagan. Whether you choose to build, donate, volunteer or shop at an Okanagan ReStore, together, you are helping to shape a stronger community. To learn more about HFH Okanagan and how you help build a better future for Okanagan families, go online to HabitatForHumanityOkanagan.ca or call the HFH Okanagan office 778-755-4346.
you as a taxpayer and the offender if and when they are caught. Fines for illegal dumping are high, up to $2,000 under the Offence Act. If you find an illegal dump, call the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250, or report it online at regionaldistrict.com/illegaldump. If you see someone dumping illegally: O B S E R V E : If you see someone dumping take a few minutes to watch. You must actually witness the person dump their materials for us to pursue charges. RECORD: Note the time, date, location, vehicle license and description, and type of materials dumped. R E P O R T : Report Using Online Form or call (250-469-6250 If you or your group is interested in assisting with cleaning up an illegal dump site, the Regional Waste Reduction Office wants to hear from you. They will supply any groups interested with equipment to support their efforts, and will arrange for the collection and disposal of the garbage collected. You can contact them at recycle@cord.bc.ca or call them at 250-469-6250.
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PAGE 10 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Regional District breaking down mattresses to help reduce landfill
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Mattresses are big, bulky and last an average of 8-10 years before they are replaced and end up at a transfer station and eventually in the landfill. They are costly to ship to the landfill from transfer stations, and, once they arrive at the landfill, they take up significant space as they do not compact or breakdown. But mattresses are made up of a number of components that can easily be recycled and the Regional District of Central Okanagan is trying to do something about some of those mattresses, as well as other furniture items that are tossed away each year. For over three years now, the Regional District of Central Okanagan has been dismantling mattresses, box springs as well as hide-a-beds, recliners, auto seats and other high metal items at the Westside Residential Waste and Recycling Centre in West Kelowna. “Taking the mattresses apart as well as other high metal items saves on transporting that weight to the landfill from our Westside Transfer station” says Cynthia Coates, Waste Reduction Facilitator for the Regional District. “We recycle the metal springs and all the clean wood from the mattresses, while the foam and fabric are currently still being sent to landfill.”
That reduction in bulkiness makes a difference at the Glenmore landfill too as these mattresses are no longer taking up space and the springs aren’t getting caught on compaction equipment either. Since 2013, the RDCO has deconstructed more than 7,400 mattress and box springs as well as more than 6,800 other items. “It’s a worthwhile project for sure” says Coates, “and residents are surprised and happy to see that something is being done with these bulky items. This kind of project is happening in various cities across Canada and mattress recycling is also starting up at the Glenmore landfill too this year, it’s great to see it being done there as well.”
Contributed
These photos show how mattresses can be broken down and recycled.
PAGE 11 • THE RECYCLER
TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016
Repair Café motto: Fix it, don’t toss it Do you have a broken down item at home that needs fixing but just don’t know how to go about it? If so, the Regional Waste Reduction Office wants you to mark Saturday November 5 on your calendar and invites you to their eighth Repair Café to date. The event is free to attend from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the new Trades Building at Okanagan College. What happens at a Repair Café? Rae Stewart, Waste Reduction Facilitator for the RDCO says “You bring in your broken down item, and we line you up with the best suited volunteer fixer that takes a look and tries to fix the item for you! If they can’t do it right there on the spot, they can usually provide some trouble shooting tips for you on what to try next, what part it may need, or if it needs to go to the recycle depot or junk heap. Our volunteers give new life to otherwise unused, overlooked, or broken down common household items, and that seems to be making a lot of people happy!” Stewart adds, “The idea behind the Repair Cafe is to bring together volunteer craftspeople with the skills and knowhow to fix every-
day items — small appliances, bikes, clothing — with people who have items that need fixing. It’s a great way for people to get more use out of their item, save it from the landfill and possibly even learn a few fixing tips themselves!” Stewart says they typically have approximately 100 people turn out to any given Repair Café and the item that show up for fixing are as varied as the people who bring them in. “We’ve seen our fair share of bicycles, toasters, lamps, broken china and figurines, family heirlooms, furniture, rice cookers, vacuums, basically anything and everything with an electrical cord, worn and torn clothing, ghetto blasters, VCRs and tape recorders. The list is long. “Volunteers are the backbone of these events, we simply couldn’t host these Repair Cafés without them,” adds Stewart. Some of our volunteers have been there from the very first event, others come and go, it’s the inherent nature of volunteerism. Suffice to say, we are always looking for more helpers, if you think you have a skill set that might be useful, and you can spare a few hours of your time
Contributed
Volunteer Denny Thompson, and participants Shirley and Krista Hooker on a Saturday to give back to your community and volunteer at the upcoming Repair Café November 5th, please contact our office, we would love to hear from you!” Whether you attend as a visitor with broken down stuff, or you help out to fix a broken down item, you are part of a bigger picture- reducing unnecessary waste and building community. What started in the Netherlands and is graining traction all over the globe is a concept that is now well rooted right here in the Central Okanagan as well. If you would like to volunteer , you’re asked to call the Waste Reduction Office at 250-4696250 or email recycle@cord.bc.ca.
Contributed
Volunteer Dwight Carroll, and participants Tamika Angtim and her daughter.
• Habitat for Humanity Kelowna helps families buy simple, decent and affordable homes • Habitat ReStore helps keep material out of the landfill, and the proceeds from the sales help support Habitat’s building program • It’s a great chance to give back to the community and a local cause, make friends and help families in need
1793 Ross Rd. West Kelowna
2092 Enterprise Way, Kelowna Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm
778-755-4346 • www.habitatforhumanityoanagan.ca • info@hfhokanagan.ca