Sunday 27 January 2019
Saturday 26 January 2019
Why Burning Waste and Rubbish is not the Answer to Clean Energy
Since the 1880s, cities across the United States have been actively burning solid waste. Throughout nearly a century of burning waste and rubbish, the method was praised as an easy and convenient way to get rid of trash.
 |
| Wate Management Toronto |
Today, burning waste is continually framed as an environmentally-friendly resource, using the heat from burning trash to produce steam to generate electricity. Across North America, there are a number of these waste-to-energy plants, which might seem like a brilliant way to get rid of one’s trash.
Since the 1980s, there has been growing opposition to the practice of burning waste, with some accusing these facilities of being major polluters. Recently, there has been movement towards co-incineration facilities which would burn waste alongside traditional fossil fuels for energy.
Multiple reports have been released in the past decade highlighting the unsustainability and misguidedness of burning waste and rubbish. Across 29 million tons of garbage that are burned every year in the United States, this comprises of 12 percent of the country’s total waste. At the same time, it only produces 0.4 percent of the US electricity annually.
There are several reasons why burning waste and rubbish is not the answer to clean energy. First and foremost, the act of burning away our waste might seem like a stress-free way to unload it however it comes consequences. A 2011 report tackling waste burning facilities in New York found that burning waste released up to 14 times more mercury, twice as much lead, and four times as much cadmium than coal plants do. Needless to say, it’s anything but clean, producing very dirty air pollution, with multiple facilities in the United States having already paid multi-million dollar fines for violating the US’ Clean Air Act.
The future of waste and recycling in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the continent needs to focus on limiting waste production and reusing the waste that is produced as best as we can. Currently, less than 35 percent of waste produced in North America is recycled. If localized recycling facilities can be implemented with a greater range of technology, more of our waste materials may be able to be put up for reuse and/or recycling. If companies designing products can move towards materials with higher recyclability ratings, that also has a role to play. Eliminating the types of plastic that are toxic and/or hard-to-recycle is a step that needs to be taken. Burning municipal solid waste cannot figure into how we process waste in North America for much longer.
Clean energy comes from environmentally sustainable practices and proper waste processing. As a Toronto waste management, junk removal, and recycling company, we know the value in moving towards an increasingly greener world. The economic benefits of this are sizeable, the ways in which these technologies can drive innovation is promising, and the incentives are notable.
In order to pursue more promising long-term eco-friendly incentives, waste incineration is a practice that will have to come to an end in the near future. Burning waste is not a healthy alternative to landfills, does not solve climate change in any way, and does more damage than good. As we look ahead to Toronto’s environmentally sustainable future, waste incineration is not something we want to encourage. There are better ways, no doubt.
Tuesday 22 January 2019
Monday 21 January 2019
Get Rid of your Spring Cleaning Junk Removal the right way with Core Mini Bins
With every spring comes the opportunity to give it a good clean. Instead of throwing everything to the curb, give Core Mini Bins a call. We do spring cleaning junk removal in Toronto the right way. Whenever we set out on a junk removal adventure, we do so keeping in mind a commitment to repurpose and reuse any materials we can while ensuring that those which cannot be recycled are appropriately processed at waste management facilities in the GTA.
 |
| Disposal services Toronto, Disposal bins Toronto, disposal bin rentals, Mini Bin Rental, Garbage Bin Rental, Junk disposal Toronto, |
Every residential home and commercial establishment deserves the opportunity to clean themselves out a bit in the spring. After a cold Canadian winter, there’s nothing more satisfying than going in and getting rid of some junk. Along with the flowers and sunshine though, we’ve noticed not everyone gives thought to the impact their spring cleaning processes have. Trash dumped at the side of the road, mixing in possible recycling products with waste, illegally dumping, and illegally using private dumpsters are all unfair to the environment around us.
Instead of dumping illegally or shuffling out items to the side of the road, a waste management company can help. By hiring a waste management company, you get garbage pick-up and processing all in one. That means you don’t need to worry about getting caught for illegal dumping or complications happening from putting material out to the side of the road. As a professional recycling company, we do our best to bring together the resources required to keep waste from our landfills. Accepting a wide range of materials, we can help or at least provide some guidance on the best method to get of your spring junk cleaning haul the right way.
Thanks to the efforts of Toronto’s waste management companies, millions of pounds of waste are diverted from the region’s landfills every year. That’s a huge accomplishment and a number we are proud to have contributed to. That said, there’s still a lot more work that can be done. Routinely, when we drive through Toronto streets, we see unusable bulky items and electronics lined up against trash bins, in addition to dumpsters overflowing with garbage, and recycling containers carrying too much weight to them. For any collection of residential units or commercial units that do not have an adequate garbage collection schedule in place, we would be happy to discuss with them what alternatives might be available.
At times, spring cleaning junk removal might be as simple as putting an ad out on Kijiji. This is well worth a consideration if you have some reusable construction materials, appliances that are not too beat up, or a couch that could be used by someone else. It never hurts to offer someone else in the area the materials that you no longer value. Then again, if no one else picks it up after a few days, give Core Mini Bins a call and we can take care of your junk removal no problem.
If you need to rent a dumpster or schedule a junk removal pick-up, Core Mini Bins would be happy to help with that. The last thing we want to see is anyone having to dump illegally or hang onto their spring cleaning junk because they don’t know where to put it. Speak with a Core Mini Bins representative today to find out what your options are and what alternatives might be available to you.
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Do you Support these 5 Ways to Reduce Toronto Waste – a Discussion
There’s been a lot of research conducted on how cities like Toronto can reduce waste. So many different ideas have been proposed however it’s unclear on how Toronto can successfully move forward. Most of the proposals introduced have focused on demotivating waste production and motivating pro-recycling practices. In some cases, philosophies have targeted the economic aspect, arguing that to pollute should come at a cost – particularly for small businesses and corporations. Here are some of the current ideas being debated by the City of Toronto regarding how they would discourage and limit waste, and encourage the development of more sustainable alternatives.
 |
|
#1 – Deposit return programs
Programs that reward consumers who refund items that they’ve previously bought – such as a bottle, a non-alcohol aluminum can, or plastic container – has been highly recommended. Even items such as batteries and e-waste are believed to have some potential for these type of deposit return programs. Across Canada, deposit return programs has been responsible for an average 80 percent return rate, though these type of programs differ per province. Many organizations continue to push for Ontario to accept non-alcohol plastic bottles for deposit exchange, similar to provinces like New Brunswick, however Ontario has yet to accept or favor an initiative like this.
#2 – Cutting taxes on small item repairs
Cutting taxes on small item repairs and offering income tax credits on the labor costs of repairs is a technique currently employed in Sweden. Though these laws were first enacted in 2017 and the data on them is still unclear on how successful they are, there are already some communities across Canada employing similar tax breaks, including Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It will be interesting to see in the next few years how this impacts waste reduction.
#3 – Additional charges for single-use, non-recyclable products
More Canadian municipalities are banning single-use plastic bags, leading some to argue for additional fees rather than bans on other single-use items. For example, in the UK, a single-use plastic charge tax reduced plastic bag use by up to 80 percent. Employing similar fees for disposable plastic cups and takeout containers might help to foster a more recycling-friendly atmosphere. There has been some debate as to how this could affect small businesses who depend on single-use items such as this to deliver their product.
#4 – Charging customers for their waste
Canadians are charged a flat rate for their garbage disposal, no matter how much waste they produce. Instead of charging a flat rate, some have proposed a charge per bag or establishing a bag limit per household. The argument here is that this would encourage households to buy more recyclable items and/or products that could be reused. In some municipalities, such as Stratford, Ontario, this program has already been implemented. Charging residents $1.75 per garbage bag, a per-bag waste fee has been responsible for producing 35 percent less waste in Stratford and an increase in recycling of 62 percent. The argument against such a program is that it could potentially increase illegal dumping, recycling contamination, and littering.
#5 – Consumer incentives
Tires, mobile devices, and pesticide containers are all handled by industry-based waste and recycling programs. Some have argued that providing consumer incentives for returning and recycling these items could help in raising recycling rates. There are some businesses already providing similar incentives for customers looking to return products for recycling – including H&M, Best Buy, Apple, and cosmetics retailer Lush.
As Toronto moves towards a zero waste future, any of these 5 waste reduction methods could function as adequate. As a high quality Toronto waste management company, Core Mini Bins hopes to play its role in a future of limited waste and increased recycling.
Friday 11 January 2019
What you Always wanted to know about Waste Management Trucks
Waste management trucks get a bad name. These trucks are typically thought of as loud, noisy, rumbling industrial monstrosities. They are not exactly the most pleasant to look at either. That said, there’s a lot to waste management trucks that you might not be aware of.
 |
| Disposal services Toronto, Disposal bins Toronto, disposal bin rentals, Mini Bin Rental, Garbage Bin Rental, Junk disposal Toronto, |
In Toronto alone, every day, hundreds of waste management trucks hit the road. Throughout the GTA, these trucks are tasked with collecting waste from condo buildings, construction sites, commercial businesses, residential homes, demolitions, renovations, and more. Every day, thousands of customers across Toronto are serviced. In fact, Toronto is one of the busiest cities in Canada when it comes to waste management. Toronto’s own Core Mini Bins is proud to be included among the waste management truck companies who serve the region. Making hundreds of stops across Toronto, hundreds of tons of waste are processed every day by these trucks.
Inside Core Mini Bins’ waste management trucks, there’s a lot to process. To begin with, the onboard computers we use in our waste management trucks help to direct drivers to different sites across the area. These tablets also help to track real-time data on location, customers serviced, and materials processed. Connecting to the dispatch center, this also makes it easier to communicate and ensure any immediate customer needs are resolved in a timely fashion. Also, service orders are easily assigned and, this way, waste management pick-up orders can sometimes be picked up same-day. At times, there may be issues at commercial sites such as dumpster rental bins being blocked. When there is, a call to the dispatcher can oftentimes help resolve the situation or at least provide an update on schedule.
Every truck is also equipped with a waste management safety standards manual ensuring the driver adheres to the strictest standards when handling pick-up and drop-off. Needless to say, safety for our drivers, and the neighborhoods and communities they serve is imperative. In addition, paperwork inside detail maintenance and inspections performed on the vehicle. Ensuring the vehicle is in proper functioning order is also a necessity, prior to any project.
Though we can’t give away all of our secrets, these are just some of the items found within our waste management trucks. As the years continue to pass us by, technology is becoming increasingly useful to us. High-tech gadgets are already implemented in some cases and there are no doubt more on the way in the decade to come. For example, driver cameras to capture unsafe conditions, risky behaviour, and driving conditions is not far off. Routing software through existing onboard technology can also help us to optimize service delivery in the Toronto region.
In Toronto, with the high number of condo developments, small businesses, multi-national corporations, construction sites, and ongoing general development, waste management trucks are almost always on the road. As trends in waste management continue to change and recycling processing sees its own increase, expect to see more of these trucks through the streets of Toronto.
As one of the fastest growing waste disposal companies in the city, Core Mini Bins is proud to share some of its waste management truck background with our readers. Remember, for all of your waste management, recycling, and disposal needs, don’t hesitate to give Core Mini Bins a call today to speak with a representative.
Wednesday 9 January 2019
These are the Challenges of Glass Recycling
Across Canada, glass recycling is one of the most common recycling practices there is yet it comes with many challenges. It is notoriously abrasive on recycling equipment, the weight of glass is high meaning transportation costs are equally high, and attempting to separate it into single-stream is sometimes near impossible. In some parts of Canada, the economics of recycling glass don’t always balance out as well as one might hope. The future of glass recycling is heavily dependent upon improving existing processes and creating a more economically favorable environment for it.
 |
| Disposal services Toronto, Disposal bins Toronto, disposal bin rentals, Mini Bin Rental, Garbage Bin Rental, Junk disposal Toronto, |
Throughout decades of increasing popularity in recycling, equipment has been continually improved upon. As more time passes, we are hopeful that glass recycling equipment can continue to progress and get better at handling the material. Collecting glass from neighborhoods across Toronto and the GTA, we know the amount of glass out there is significant. If we can successfully build the equipment needed to process it, there is no reason a long-term solution cannot be found. Current equipment can successfully process glass materials from used bottles through to new bottles, among other accomplishments. Needless to say, the wear and tear of glass on the equipment remains as an ongoing problem.
The weight of glass might never change however by creating localized processing facilities, transportation costs can not only be lowered but, in some cases, eliminated altogether. As a waste management company, dumpster rental company, and recycling company in Toronto, we have established strategic partnerships throughout the region to meet challenges akin to this. Local recycling process will be key moving forward to bringing Toronto to a zero waste reality and glass recycling processes are a hugely important part to that future. Throughout Ontario, more companies are coming to realize the power in localized processing.
Thirdly, the separation of glass into single-stream is a necessity to successfully recycling the material. When glass is collected mixed in with other recyclables, sorting it is not always easy. In many cases, it means more processing and higher costs. The future of glass recycling should get to single-stream, meaning glass that is completely separate from other recyclables and thereby collected separately. When glass is kept separate, it keeps it easier to keep clean and ready for processing. Needless to say, you don’t want glass to reach the end of the processing line mixed in with bottle caps, miscellaneous materials, and shredded paper.
There are additional challenges to glass recycling as well – including glass coming to facilities with labels, lids, and caps tagged on; lesser quality glass being mixed in alongside higher quality glass; and ‘breaking’ in the distribution chain being a common occurrence.
Due to the economics of glass recycling, some might see it as a material not worth recycling – this is not what we believe. At Core Mini Bins, we subscribe to the philosophy that if there is a way to recycle it, the effort should be made to do so.
Yes, glass recycling comes with its challenges however as a material, it has significant long-term potential in terms of reuse. As we move increasingly towards waste reduction and ‘zero waste’, glass recycling has its place. Today’s recycling processes dedicated to glass recycling evidently need improvement. While it might take years to get there, as a Toronto waste management and recycling company, we are confident that we can get there as a city and province.
Tuesday 1 January 2019
How to Prevent Bugs from Hanging Around while Waiting for your Waste Management Company
As the hot summer weather sets in, issues related to pests and bugs circling commercial waste is a growing concern for many small business owners. Improper waste management processes only serves to attract infestations that can cause havoc for property managers.
 |
| Disposal services Toronto, Disposal bins Toronto, disposal bin rentals, Mini Bin Rental, Garbage Bin Rental, Junk disposal Toronto, |
When hiring a waste management company, they are not necessarily going to be coming every day to pick up the trash. That means it becomes the responsibility of the business to ensure their waste is being properly stored and managed in the interim prior to pick-up.
The first step in bug prevention in waste management is to evaluate the current processes. For inexperienced business owners, this will mean switching things up a little. Remember that pests need certain elements to survive – food, water, warmth, and shelter are a few. By denying them these, infestations can be almost eliminated altogether. Flies, mosquitoes, wasps and bees, and cockroaches are nothing to laugh at. Be sure to evaluate where, when, and how waste is being kept. In many cases, there may be a more effective way to manage one’s commercial waste.
Cockroaches, as an example, thrive on dirty, moist conditions. They feed mainly on decaying plant material, and are known to carry germs such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. The rooms where waste is being kept and/or the rooms near to where the waste is being kept should be properly sealed. Check for cracks, crevices, and voids in the walls and ceilings. If cockroaches are able to get through and into a commercial property’s other rooms, it will not bode well for sales!
Then, there are flies which are one of the more common pest nuisances. Even though they are more common, it does not mean they are any less dirty. In fact, flies are some of the dirtiest pests that waste can attract, carrying and transmitting more than 100 pathogens. Though a few flies might seem ok, a few may fast attract a larger population. If there is a dumpster or outdoor trashcan in place to hold waste, these can be very difficult to manage in terms of keeping flies away. Lastly, there are also wasps and bees to keep in mind. These guys feed on meat, fish, and sugar. If a waste bin is not properly covered and/or which is not being emptied regularly, expect wasps and bees to gather throughout the summer months.
There are a number of waste management prevention techniques that can be used to help prevent bugs and pests from accumulating around your commercial property. For example, waste bins should always be kept closed, and cleaned out regularly with hot water and detergent to prevent residue from gathering.
Consider odor-neutralizing products to eliminate pest-attracting odors. If pest attraction is particularly bad, you also may want to use insect light traps. In the event that your commercial enterprise is using a dumpster, ensure it is sanitized regularly. Also, waste disposal areas should be inspected every day to ensure that trash is not spilling out, that all food waste is being properly discarded, and that pest management processes are being upheld.
How to prevent bugs from hanging around while waiting for your waste management company to pick up is ultimately about being vigilant. And, when problems arise, there’s always a way to make improvements and ensure waste is being properly stored.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)