Bigger is better for recycling: municipal officials

West Island municipalities are teaming up to purchase large bins to collect residential recycling in order to replace the smaller ‘blue boxes.’

“The West Island municipalities got together to purchase the bins, so we got a very good price,” said Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau.

Despite the fact the resale demand for recyclable materials such as paper and plastic is not currently strong, local municipalities have purchased wheeled 120-, 240- and 360- litre-sized bins (the latter the equivalent of six blue boxes) to distribute free-of-charge to their residents between now and the fall as part of an unsorted mechanized recycling program.

“The blue box system was in operation for 20 years,” said Pointe Claire Mayor Bill McMurchie. “Now, people are more conscientious of landfills and garbage and they tend to recycle more. The blue boxes are outdated.”

He said it is expected people will recycle about 40 per cent more with the bins because of their size and the fact materials being placed inside don’t need to be sorted by residents.

Kirkland director general Joe Sanalitro said his town will introduce the 360-litre bins for general use by early June, though some smaller units will be distributed on a per case basis. Despite a slag in sales for recyclable materials, he said the new bins are a step in the right direction.

“Many homes (in our town) use two to four blue boxes,” he said. “They’re full and the wind blows everything around. The new bins are bigger and have a lid.”

Pointe Claire will start using them city-wide in late May or June due to some delays with the order (a pilot project had been in place since last year for a select number of homes). McMurchie, who took part in his city’s pilot project, said he was surprised his ability to recycle increased with the bins since he was already a big-time recycler.

In Baie d’Urfé, the bin size of choice should be delivered to residents in May while Dollard des Ormeaux will deliver its bins in June.

Senneville had offered 120- and 240-litre bins to its residents but recommended the larger 360-litre bins for the average household. Dollard, however, suggested the 240-litre bin as the standard but offered the other two options as well.

Homeowners should note the old blue boxes will no longer be picked by the contractor once the new bins are in use in each particular area. Officials hope the bins will encourage recycling and reduce the amount of garbage heading to landfills.

The bins are being purchased from IPL Inc., a Baie d’Urfé town official confirmed.