By Mark Squibb/May 26, 2022
We know that recycling can reduce landfill waste and prevent pollution, but it can also save you a few dollars too— in a couple of different ways.
During last week’s public meeting of council, councillor Jim Locke noted that the City had to pay over $43,160 in tipping fees for March alone.
“This is for 566 tonnes of garbage,” said Locke. “We’ve spoken about this, Mr. Mayor, multiple times here, but we’re paying $82 a tonne for garbage at the Robin Hood Bay Facility and $22 for recycling. So, it’s much more cost effective if we can recycle all the items that are recyclable.”
He noted that the City has a diversion rate of about 13 percent (A diversion rate measures how much waste is not sent to a landfill, but is instead diverted to recycling plants or elsewhere) but that an optimal diversion rate, which can be achieved if more folks recycle, would be around 27 or 28 per cent.
“So, we’re paying $82 for recyclables when we could be saving $60,” said Locke.
He said that in years prior the City has run successful recycling campaigns, which helped increase the diversion rate and save the City some dollars, and that the City is once again considering that approach.
“We’re going to be looking at an education program to remind our residents not only the impact that recycling has on our environment, obviously, but that this landfill out there has a life expectancy, and the more we can keep out of that, the longer we can keep this waste management facility open, and then that of course will prevent us from having to find another site at another cost,” said Locke.
Councillor Bill Antle added that Mount Pearl pays the City of St. John’s roughly $500,000 annually in tipping fees.
Locke agreed with Antle’s assessment.
“Not only will it save the environment, but it will certainly save in our pocketbook as well,” Locke concluded.