Not all plastics can be recycled at Peel facility

The Region of Peel reminds residents to only place acceptable recyclable items in their blue box to reduce the amount of contaminated material being generated at Peel's recycling facility.

Only the following plastics can be recycled in your blue box: bottles, jugs, food tubs, foam packaging and bags.

Some plastic packaging cannot be recycled in your blue box, and includes items such as fruit and vegetable clamshell containers, takeout containers, salad containers, egg cartons and blister packaging. Residents should place these plastic items in the garbage.

"We're seeing a lot of plastic packaging that can't be recycled coming into our recycling facility," said Andrew Pollock, director, waste management. "This packaging cannot be sorted at municipal material recycling facilities and often gets mixed with other recyclable plastics, which contaminates the endproduct for marketing."

Producers of certain plastic packaging use different types of plastic resin during the manufacturing process. As a result, two identical looking plastic packages may be made from completely different plastic resins. When these products are brought to the recycling facility for sorting, the sorters cannot distinguish what type of plastic the packing is made from.

Other items, such as takeout coffee/soft drink cups, contain multiple layers of plastic on paper fibre, which cannot be separated for either composting or recycling. These items should also be placed in the garbage.

To help simplify the issue, the Region has developed a blue box recycling database that can be accessed by visiting www.peelregion.ca/waste. The database allows users to enter an item in a search box that will instruct them where the item should be placed (e.g. blue box, green bin, garbage, etc.) and why.

"We hope that residents will use the database to gain a better understanding of how to properly manage their waste," Pollock added. "Since the recycling industry is constantly evolving as a result of new technologies and regulations, the database will be regularly updated to reflect industry changes."

"The Government of Ontario has jurisdiction over packaging, and the Region resolutions requesting the province to require brand owners and retailers to only use plastic packaging that is recyclable in municipal Blue Box programs," said Councillor Elaine Moore, chair of the environment, transportation and planning services committee. "It's also important that residents make their views known and we encourage them to contact their Member of Provincial Parliament, local grocer or retailer and request that all plastic packaging be recyclable."

Residents can learn which products are acceptable in their blue box by referring to the Region's Web site at www.peelregion.ca/waste or page 10 of their 2007 Waste Management Guide.

Residents can also call the Region at 905-791-9499 for more information.