City makes recycling easier, expands blue box items
Posted Jun 10, 2011 01:48:58 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
In a bid to ease the confusion over exactly what can go in your blue recycle box, the city has announced that all food and household plastic containers are now allowed in the bins.
The additions now cover things like plastic take-out containers, single serve yogurt containers, plastic pails and plastic planting trays and flower pots.
Mayor Jim Watson says, “The acceptance of these containers is another step to help us reach our diversion target of 60 per cent. It is a move that will make recycling simpler and easier for our residents and is part of our overall commitment to a greener Ottawa.”
Councillor Maria McRae, Chair of the City’s Environmental Committee, urged the public to fully participate in the recycling program. McRae says, “These recyclables add up. In 2010, our recyclables were marketed and amounted to over $8 million in revenue.”
Once collected the blue box materials are sorted into plastics, metals, glass and paper and are sold to various companies in Canada and the U.S for use in manufacturing.
