Photo Karen Graham.
Moloks cannot accept plastic, Styrofoam and other packaging.
It seems we need to do a better job sorting our waste to ensure we divert as much of it as possible to save money and protect the planet.
Staff at the transfer station are frustrated by some of the items that are being discarded inappropriately which might jeopardize some environmental programs which reduce the volume of waste sent to the Bensfort landfill. Residents are placing items in Molok units that are not acceptable for this waste diversion stream. The instructions on the bins indicate no bags are allowed in these units. This includes biodegradable or compostable bags. Unfortunately these instructions are located on the unit lids, where they are not visible when the unit is open.
Molok bins on site allow residents outside the Millbrook area to deposit a wide variety of organic material, including items that are not appropriate for home composting units. In addition to food products such as coffee grounds, fruits and vegetables and baked goods, these units can accept leftover food, fats, dairy products, meat, fish and bones. Items destined for disposal in these units can be wrapped in newspaper or dumped directly into the bins.
Items that cannot be put into these bins are compostable or plastic bags, paper products including tissue, paper towels or napkins, dog feces, any food wrapping or containers, sanitary products, diapers, compostable plastic products and paper coffee cups. The Millbrook resident organic waste program is somewhat broader, and includes paper towels, napkins and tissues unless they have been subjected to cleaning products, and yes, even soiled food packaging such as ice cream containers, popcorn, flour and sugar bags. Neither program accepts cat litter, dryer or vacuum contents, BBQ or fire ashes or sanitary products such as diapers.
Leaf and Yard waste is collected on specific days during the spring and fall throughout the township and is diverted to
All Molok contents are diverted to the Bensfort Road compost facility, where it is mixed with leaf and yard material to create compost. The units are emptied approximately every two weeks, diverting roughly 1,000 kg of material each time. This is all waste that has been diverted from the landfill.
Another area of confusion is plastic recycling. Not all plastic is recyclable. Hard plastic items including toys, laundry soap containers, coffee cup lids, plastic cutlery, coat hangers and straws are not recyclable. Nor is plastic wrap, as it has been treated with a chemical. The same applies to bubble wrap, which includes glue.
As we celebrate the holiday season, let’s pay closer attention to how we handle the waste we generate and do the planet a favour by sorting it to reduce the impact of our celebrations on the environment. KG