The City of Cornwall has taken steps to improve recycling in apartments and condominiums throughout the community.
A new multi-residential recycling program has been established with the assistance of a $21,000 grant through Waste Diversion Ontario's Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF).
The City retained the firm of Integrated Environmental Waste Services to assist with carrying out the project, which involved meeting with the various property owners and superintendents of multi-residential properties and distributing new recycling carts and boxes where needed.
"This program will give more residents a chance to participate in our recycling program," said Mayor Bob Kilger. "We're engaging a new sector of our community to help us build a greener Cornwall, and the entire community benefits because it helps to extend the life of the City landfill."
Over 350 recycling carts are being distributed to multi-residential properties to be used in common garbage disposal areas. In addition to that, over 450 recycling boxes were delivered to townhouse complexes and smaller multi-residential buildings where common garbage disposal areas were not practical or available.
As part of the project, a Superintendent Recycling Handbook was created and distributed to give property officials the necessary information on how to set up and maintain a successful recycling program.
"The goal of this project is to make it easier for residents and building owners to recycle by equipping them with the necessary tools and information," said Nicole Robertson, Solid Waste Supervisor. "This represents a major step in our overall goal of diverting more waste from the City Landfill."
The recyclables from multi-residential buildings will be picked up weekly as part of the City's regular collection schedule.
As of April, the City has been collecting recyclables on a weekly basis, in a single container. New blue boxes were issued to all households to assist with the transition to weekly collection. A number of new items are now being accepted for recycling, including polycoat containers, milk and juice cartons, gable top, Tetra Pak and frozen juice containers.
The enhancements to the recycling program are part of the 1 Green Cornwall initiative to highlight the City of Cornwall's environmental programs and encourage civic participation in the 3 Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
A program of Waste Diversion Ontario, the Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF) provides grants and loans to Ontario municipalities to execute projects that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of municipal blue box recycling.
For additional information on recycling, please visit the Environment section of the City of Cornwall website, www.Cornwall.ca.
