Recycling Changes

Flagstaff Waste is proud to announce the we will begin accepting Rigid plastics for recycling! Yellow Bins will be placed at the current recycle stations where you normally bring Cardboard, Tin, Newsprint and Office Paper.

It is important to note that plastics recycling will require public support to ensure the proper materials are being deposited in the bins. Excessive contamination will result in the material being landfilled.

Decals with examples of accepted plastics will be on each bin, it is a lot of information so its important that our Recycling Super hero’s  (that’s you) take the time to read and fully understand what is accepted and not accepted. If there are any questions or concerns, please give us a call at 780-384-3950.

Outlined below are the materials which can and cannot be placed in the Yellow plastics recycling bins.

ACCEPTED PLASTICS:

  • Rigid Plastics #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 

NOT ACCEPTED:

  • Non-Rigid Plastics Like Bags, cling wrap, shower curtains, tarps, balloons, packing filler / Bubble wrap.
  • Hazardous Materials containers – items with WHMIS labels on them.
  • Mixed material items: Electronics, Suit cases, School binders (metal rings & cardboard inserts).
  • Dirty containers – Please wash out any residue.
  • Items that are not plastic. Dirt, Metal, Glass, Chemicals, Liquids, Wood, Cardboard, Paper, Rubber.
  • Styrofoam – While made from plastic, there are different types and its difficult to tell them apart.
  • No Biodegradable or Compostable Plastics
  • No Biohazard, Medical, or Radioactive materials.

Current Recycling Streams will remain unchanged.

  • Community Compost Bins which accept leaves, grass and garden waste (Seasonal)
  • Concrete recycling into RCA (Recycled Concrete Aggregate)
  • Cardboard recycling
  • Office Paper & Newsprint recycling
  • Metal recycling
  • Tin Can recycling
  • Tire recycling
  • Mattress recycling
  • Electronic Waste recycling
  • Plastic recycling
  • Agricultural Plastics – Chem Jugs and Bale wrap.

By modifying our program to separate various materials, we lower contamination levels which ensures we receive top value for recycled commodities.

Please click on the drop down menus below for additional information.

Recycling Posters

Curbside Blue Bag Pilot Program Discontinuation

The Curbside Blue Bag Pilot Program in Sedgewick and Killam has not been renewed due to global recycling market shifts. Single Stream Recycling such as the Blue Bag program leads to the highest contamination rate which in turn creates costly problems for the recycling processor. Speaking with recycling processors about these changes have revealed that with the new extremely strict contamination standards that not only has processing costs gone up significantly, they are also landfilling upwards of 45% of the product coming from single stream programs. It is not sustainable to have the processor try to sort items that will not be accepted by international markets from our recycle bins for us. Their technology and staff cannot catch every piece of contaminated material or small bit of plastic film.  Global Markets have also shifted considerably on which products are desirable and have an end use.

While we understand the removal of the program feels frustrating and a possibly a step back from the ease of participation and convenience that came with the Blue Bag Pilot Program we need to ensure that our program is both economic and that the products collected are truly being recycled end of day.