In Edmonton, they’re turning Wastewater to Fertilizer; can we Do that in Toronto – we think so

A new Edmonton wastewater processing facility is literally creating fertilizer from wastewater. The technology used is more than a decade old however is now just being applied in the city. Now, this facility will be able to take phosphorus and other nutrients, creating more than three tonnes of fertilizer set to be diverted towards farm use across Canada. As a sustainable way to maximize what we get from waste products, this might be something Toronto wishes to look into.

In Edmonton, they’re turning Wastewater to Fertilizer; can we Do that in Toronto – we think so

Recognized as the ‘Edmonton Waste Management Centre’, it’s one of the largest in the world and the first of its kind. Costing more than $18 million, it’s being managed by Epcor and Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies. As the technology has now been proven and a Canadian facility is in operation, Edmonton’s a great location for the first. The City has strong ties to the west coast’s farming community. Though Toronto does not have that same connection, there are sites all across the outskirts of the city that could be pushed forward for re-development into a waste management facility like this.

In the past, technology like this has been criticized as being ‘too good to be true’. Thankfully, Edmonton made the investments necessary to prove it right on a big scale. This kind of environmental leadership is sometimes associated with much larger cities than Edmonton. Needless to say, this has put them on the map in terms of finding creative ways to maximize our waste and increase our recycling numbers. Now, back to Toronto, there’s a lot of positive development that has been happening, supporting a more eco-friendly future. The fact remains however that there has not been any such recycling facility like this anywhere close.

Can Toronto be doing more to support a more recycle-friendly future – absolutely. We’re aware though that it requires a lot of time, money, effort, and partners to be able to put together initiatives like the Edmonton facility we’re discussing. Nevertheless, this is an area that we may wish to investigation as a possible means of improving our future. For all the positives at play, we still end up with a tremendous amount of garbage in our water supply, a waste diversion rate that is not as good as it could be, recycling cross-contamination issues that need to be handled, and more.

More than 1,000 tonnes of fertilizer is set to be produced annually via Edmonton’s new facility. There’s no telling what could be accomplished if similar facilities were opened in cities across Canada. The pearls of fertilizer that are then provided to farmers to use in their fields supports a great eco-friendly cycle that one might not have otherwise thought possible. Using Edmonton’s sewage water, this facility lays the groundwork for a bright, eco-friendly future.

The removal of phosphorous from waste water is important. For Edmonton, it’ll cut down on maintenance costs and prevent any from going into their rivers. If Toronto could develop a similar facility, that would be a tremendous help to wastewater processing here in the GTA.

At Core Mini Bins, waste processing is important to us. If you are seeking better waste management services, recycling, junk removal, dumpster or bin rental, or more, contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today. We would love to help get you set up with the high quality waste management solution you deserve!

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/594-in-edmonton-they-re-turning-wastewater-to-fertilizer-can-we-do-that-in-toronto-we-think-so.html

5 Impressive and Unexpected Facts about Demolition and Excavation

As a premiere Toronto demolition and excavation company, Core Mini Bins is hired on a number of residential and commercial projects every year. As experienced demolition experts, we would like to share some interesting information on demolition services.

5 Impressive and Unexpected Facts about Demolition and Excavation

Demolition is not deconstruction

‘Demolition’ is different from ‘deconstruction’. Demolition is the tearing down of buildings and structures. Deconstruction involves taking down a building piece by piece, preserving each element for re-use. Depending on the demolition project we are assigned to, it may require having to deconstruct certain elements. Though we are tasked with tearing down buildings, we take our environmental commitment very seriously. If there’s a way to re-use certain materials, we will do our best.

Tallest planned demolition was done in 1968

The tallest planned demolition was done on the 47-storey high Singer Building in New York City, completed in 1968. The headquarters of the Singer Manufacturing Company, this was the tallest building in the world when it was first completed in 1908. Prior to the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, this was the largest building to have ever been destroyed at the time. A symbol of New York City wealth of the time, memories of the Singer Building are all that remains. Today, it’s been replaced with the One Liberty Plaza.

Demolition techniques vary

Depending on the needs of the area and what the building is made from, the precise demolition strategy can vary. For buildings of three storeys or less, it’s pretty straightforward. This involves pulling it down using a variety of equipment and potentially work platforms, excavators, cranes, and/or bulldozers. Large buildings may require a heavy weight on a cable, especially if there’s a lot of masonry involved. There are also newer methods of demolition which include using rotational hydraulic sheers and silenced rock-breakers in tandem with an excavator to break wood, steel, and concrete. Sometimes, sheers are used when there’s dangers to flame cutting.

Demolition requires planning and permission

As to be expected, demolition requires a hefty amount of planning and permission. Among the steps that need to be carried out beforehand include asbestos abatement, the removal of hazardous materials, procuring the necessary permits and permission to complete a demolition, notifying all relevant parties, ensuring utilities are disconnected, rodent baiting, and developing site-specific safety plans. That’s not even touching the work plans that need to be set up and any sort of environmental preparations that must be made. For these reasons, demolitions are rarely a quick process.

Building implosions are sometimes used but not always

Using explosives to do a demolition is what people usually think of when they think of demolition. It’s not always the case but in some instances, it is – such as with larger arenas, larger buildings, bridges, and other scenarios. Implosion comes with many benefits. After all, it’s fast and can oftentimes be predicted to more or less fall into its own footprint. The negatives are that any small error can be disastrous. To this point, even without error, there have been specific situations where an implosion did not work, thereby causing potential damage to neighbouring structures.

Demolition requires someone experienced to be able to maximize safety, minimize error, and ensure that all materials are properly handled. For more information on demolition and excavator services in Toronto, speak with a representative at Core Mini Bins today.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/593-5-impressive-and-unexpected-facts-about-demolition-and-excavation.html

Why Demolition in Toronto is a Necessary Part of the City’s Re-Planning

Demolition in Toronto is a symbolic act. Taking out what came before it and giving builders the opportunity to pave over the past in favor of a smarter design, this is the purpose of demolition and excavation in the GTA.

Why Demolition in Toronto is a Necessary Part of the City’s Re-Planning

Before we delve deeper into demolition, we don’t have to tell our fellow Torontonian readers that there is a lot to complain about in the design of Toronto’s streets, residential units, and commercial spaces. At least to some people, a lot of it doesn’t make sense.

Why Toronto’s city design seems impractical cannot necessarily solely be blamed on the existing city government. Toronto has been built over the course of decades. Its design, to this day, is still influenced by decisions made over centuries ago. Subsequently, when those decisions were made, Toronto was built for the population of the period it had to serve. As Toronto’s population has grown, the city’s needs have as well. To this point, if we knocked everything down today and started from a blank canvas, Toronto would end up looking significantly different. Even if we were to re-develop it in full for the population of today, ten, twenty, or thirty years from now, its needs will continue to differentiate.

There’s much of Toronto that is in a state of re-development, either for residential or commercial purposes. In these cases, demolitions and excavations have had to take place to rid these spaces of what no longer needs to be there in order to make room for proposed projects. Annually, countless buildings across Toronto are torn down. As the City undergoes a building boom unlike anything it’s seen before, demolitions are an important part of the puzzle. They are the safest way to remove materials and at times, preserve them for historical purposes and/or to be recycled and reused in other products.

Understandably, not every Torontonian is thrilled with replacing the old with the new. There’s a lot of different ways to look at it. A lot of the history of the City is wrapped up in its architecture and buildings, yes. To some degree, it’s Toronto’s history that has given the City its personality which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, yes. Despite these admissions, no one can dispute there are needs of the population not currently being served and that many of the ongoing developments are seeking to address these unmet needs. Thereby, it becomes a balancing act between how to preserve Toronto’s unique personality while redeveloping enough of the GTA to accommodate its current and future needs.

Just recently, another classic Toronto building was demolished in favor of new opportunity. The site formerly known as Hotel Waverly was once one of Toronto’s most notorious hotels, recognized for its Tom Waits-esque front door personalities, highly questionable interior conditions, and crime. The Hotel Waverly was a view into Toronto’s old gritty, underworld past. The fact that it’s now gone is seen as a negative to preservationists and yet, a positive by the municipal government. The Hotel Waverly site is making space for new housing which is something that’s key to future growth.

Every year, the City kisses goodbye to a little more of its history – for better or for worse. Amongst all this, high quality demolition and excavation services are most important. Companies like Core Mini Bins ensure materials are preserved, recycled, reused, and/or disposed of, whenever possible and in the most appropriate of ways.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/592-why-demolition-in-toronto-is-a-necessary-part-of-the-city-s-re-planning.html

Preserving the Value of Construction Materials after Demolition and/or Excavation

As a prominent Toronto demolition and excavation company, we try our best to make the most from the materials culled together from a property. Preserving the value and integrity of these construction materials, they can then be recycled or reused in alternative products. That said, sometimes, it’s not always possible to save materials.

Preserving the Value of Construction Materials after Demolition and/or Excavation

Going through any garage, basement, or barn, you’ll find a lot of material that most people will just toss out to landfills. Builders, demolition specialists, contractors, and developers may see some of these materials and immediately identify possible reuse potential.

Sometimes, the reason why materials are thrown away are simply because there’s no room to keep it and that makes sense. A lot of the junk removal calls we receive from Torontonians ask us to pick up things our customers don’t have the space to keep. Especially in a place like Toronto where every square foot counts, there’s only so much space to keep things.

Thankfully, in the last decade and a half, the market for older building materials and repurposing demolition by-products has grown. Today, there are even retail organizations selling this stuff alongside lumber, millwork, and deconstruction pieces.

There’s a lot of reasons to preserve the value of construction materials and reuse them after demolition. When done correctly, you’re capturing raw materials which themselves hold a high value. As alluring as buying shiny and new can be to some consumers, there are others who value environmentally-friendly, reclaimed purchasing of raw materials. No longer is the perception of these materials to see them as old, dirty, or dangerous. As society has been increasingly inched towards a less wasteful status, reuse of construction materials has grown in importance.

As construction aficionados, we know what can and should be saved in a demolition. Things like windows, doors, flooring, lumber, plumbing, built-ins, lighting, and hardware can all be captured and repurposed. In many cases, historical materials are a major find for us as they can sometimes be so gorgeous. In order to ensure the aforementioned materials are reusable, the condition of them is key. If they’re not in reasonable shape, that presents a challenge. Sometimes extraction or transportation may degrade the materials. If it’s not handled properly, the profit margin for building materials begin to disappear rather quickly. Things like cost to extract the materials, handle and ship them, and the cost to warehouse them all have to be weighed.

When we audit a property for a demolition or excavation, if we find materials that are worth reusing, we invest in taking apart the building in a way that preserves the integrity of said materials. Care must always be taken to remove and transport these materials securely. There’s always a way to tear something out from a home but to preserve it, there is oftentimes more time and effort that needs to be invested. That’s fine by us because it saves a lot and makes a true difference to our environment. As we’ve come to learn how to extract the materials and provide them for resale, we continue to maintain a commitment to environmentally-friendly demolition and extraction practices.

For more information on Toronto-based demolition and extraction in the GTA, contact a representative at Core Mini Bins. Upholding the highest standards in waste management and recycling, we’ll maximize the use of all materials and ensure they get a fair look prior to disposal.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/591-preserving-the-value-of-construction-materials-after-demolition-and-or-excavation.html

Is Zero Waste even Achievable in Today’s Economy – we think so

The fight for zero waste activists is oftentimes countered with arguments suggesting it’s just not possible. As a waste management and recycling company ourselves, we admit when we had doubts when we first heard about the concept of zero waste. Throughout the years though, we’ve seen what Canadians are capable of and the changes that have already been made.

Is Zero Waste even Achievable in Today’s Economy – we think so 

Is zero waste achievable in today’s economy – yes, absolutely. When will it be achieved – only time will tell. Eco-friendly, green initiatives are sometimes complicated. They can create waste themselves that we sometimes forgive because of the good they’re doing. Zero waste involves building towards a future where there is no waste and where everything is either recycled or reused to some degree.

As corporations like Walmart continue to gradually move towards zero waste, residential households and Toronto condo developments are being challenged to do the same. Throughout all the work we do – waste management, recycling, junk removal, demolition, excavation, and more – we have continued to advocate for a zero waste environment. Hardly a fool gambit’s, we’re here to say it’s only a matter of time until we achieve it.

Reuse

To achieve zero waste, reusing product is going to be a focal point to any residential or commercial customer. Single-use packaging and products will have to be let go in favor of reusable containers. As individuals, any time we opt for the reusable option, we are contributing a little bit to a zero waste future. In Canada, we still face a lot of struggle with this as the majority of our drive-thru cups and fast food wrappers are non-recyclable, as an example.

Paperless

Going paperless is an easily achievable component of zero waste. Think back to twenty years ago when North America was flooded by paper billing and paper mail, it might not have been thought possible to one day switch everything over to paperless. Today, emails, direct deposits, e-transfers, text messages, e-readers, and more have taken huge chunks out of paper manufacturing. Significant reductions in paper consumption has already played a big role in moving us towards a zero waste economy.

Public transportation

Cars are still a huge source of waste. Whether we get to the point where they are zero waste products, it’s hard to say when that will be. In the meantime, if there’s opportunity to carpool, use a bicycle, use public transportation, or take the time to occasionally work from home, this can cut down on CO2 waste. Reduce emissions and waste by using your vehicle only when necessary. Though this is not possible for every household, we may occasionally be able to make choices that reduce our emissions in this regard.

Disconnecting from the digital world

Currently, electricity connection still requires waste output. If you have the chance to disconnect from the digital world, unplug your devices, and enjoy time in your natural surroundings, it might be a great way to spend a day or night here and there. In the future, a zero waste setting may very well involve having to unplug on occasion.

For more tips, tricks, and strategies to maximize a waste-free home or commercial enterprise, contact Core Mini Bins today. As a premiere Toronto waste and recycling company, we can recommend the most appropriate option for your space to minimize waste.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/590-is-zero-waste-even-achievable-in-today-s-economy-we-think-so.html

Why Does Waste Take so Long to Break Down in our landfills

After garbage leaves the curbside, it still has a long journey before it’s one with the Earth. Depending on type, waste can take sometimes centuries to fully break down. Though the systems we have now are safer and stable, the disposal of garbage into landfills is still using limited space.

Why Does Waste Take so Long to Break Down in our landfills

The ways in which garbage has been thrown away in the past has caused significant damage, some irreparable. To undo the negative impact of environmentally-unfriendly practices, our landfills have sought to change. As recycling programs have expanded greatly in the last three decades, it has still not affected the time it takes for waste to break down. If your waste does not end up at a recycling centre, incinerator, or compost pile, it can present a heck of a challenge.

More than half of Canada’s garbage ends up in a landfill. In most cases, waste is tightly packed and sealed using a rubber-clay combination barrier. This is done to prevent liquids from getting out. Something to remember about landfills is that they were never built to break down waste. Landfills are simply meant to contain and store waste. For this reason, garbage in a landfill actually breaks down at a slower rate than it would in a non-sealed, oxygenated environment. Sadly, the sealed, oxygen-free containers in landfills also produce methane gas which is highly flammable and dangerous. Needless to say, landfills are a very ineffective way to break down garbage.

A product like aluminum cans can take up to 200 years to break down in a landfill. Thankfully, more of these aluminum cans are being recycled than ever, at a rate of 120,000 cans per day. Disposable diapers can take up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill, somewhat problematic when considering more than 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown out every year. Food waste decomposition can vary quite a bit. For example, an apple care takes around 4 weeks to fully decompose whereas a lemon peel may take up to six months. As more organic waste facilities and composting facilities have been built, these are more efficient food waste processes.

As North America’s population continues to see an increase and subsequently, waste consumption has risen, waiting for waste to break down in landfills is not the healthiest waste management policy. Despite it taking decades and sometimes centuries for products to decompose, there’s been a lot of development on the recycling front in the last decade and there’s much more to come. As a waste management, recycling, and junk removal company, we’ve seen the landscape change before our very eyes. Though landfills continue to serve a purpose and be used, things like plastic, glass, aluminum, and food waste are being processed in some very environmentally-friendly ways.

Ideally, in the future, we hope to see landfills and waste management facilities built differently. Accommodating more eco-friendly processing is going to be key to limiting traditional landfill waste. There’s no telling what’s around the corner either, in terms of whether there are ways to decrease the amount of time it takes for a waste product to break down.

As a premiere Toronto waste management company specializing in processing, disposal, recycling, and removal, Core Mini Bins assists residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial customers across the GTA. Contact us to speak with a representative today.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/589-why-does-waste-take-so-long-to-break-down-in-our-landfills.html

What are Canada’s Top Provinces doing to Recycle and What Services do they Use

Canada’s accumulating waste problem is managed differently by province. Comprehensive protocols have been established across the country and some provinces have been more successful than others at coming up with long-term, eco-friendly recycling systems. Across the country, billions of dollars’ worth of waste is produced every year. Acknowledging the provinces succeeding at waste management can hopefully provide some insight into how to implement processes and policy Canada-wide to address this growing issue.

What are Canada’s Top Provinces doing to Recycle and What Services do they Use 

Prince Edward Island

Believe it or not, PEI is one of the best provinces in Canada when it comes to recycling. In 1989, federal and provincial stakeholders in Canada agreed to reductions in solid waste in half by the year 2000. In residential and commercial solid waste, Prince Edward Island was the only province to accomplish it – the other 9 provinces couldn’t get it done. To this day, they remain a leader in waste management and recycling practices.

Ontario

Ontario has implemented a Waste-Free Ontario strategy comprising of fifteen actions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions derived from landfills and build up the province’s circular consumption economy. Long-term, it’s difficult to predict how successful Waste-Free Ontario will be however in philosophy, there’s a lot it gets right. This includes requiring waste producers to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products and packaging, requirements for increased waste diversion, and the banning of certain products from landfill disposal.

Quebec

Quebec uses a mobile app for its Charter of Recyclable Materials allowing citizens to look up what’s recyclable and what isn’t. The hope is for this to cut down on cross-contamination. There’s ongoing discussion in Quebec towards stronger recycling practices, more organic waste management facilities, and the refusal to accept certain products such as plastic bags in packaging. In the next decade, Quebec might prove to be a leader in recycling as they’re making a lot of investment in infrastructure that could play out very well.

Alberta

Alberta is making a lot of positive recycling changes, particularly in cities like Edmonton and Calgary. New recycling and disposal programs in these metropolitan areas are going to make a huge difference long-term in how the province manages its waste. Much of Alberta is building from the proven policies of its two major cities.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is developing new recycling programs, R&D opportunities, and regulations to guide an annual waste disposal target of less than 300 kg per person by 2018’s end. The province has also put forth a lot of effort in upholding their current commitment of 50 percent waste diversion. Towards the future, Nova Scotia might prove to be one of Canada’s brightest provinces when it comes to recycling efforts.

British Columbia

BC has the Road to Zero Waste program which targets educating the province’s students on environmentally-friendly practices. BC’s overall waste management strategy is somewhat similar to Ontario’s. It remains to be seen whether the philosophies discussed are adequately implemented to make a real difference in how they manage waste, recycle, and reuse.

Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick are also making investments in recycling initiatives. Needless to say, taking care of Canada is a high priority for us. As one of Toronto’s top waste management and recycling companies, Core Mini Bins continues to serve the community with quality eco-friendly services they can trust.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/588-what-are-canada-s-top-provinces-doing-to-recycle-and-what-services-do-they-use.html

Yorkdale Shopping Centre reduced their Waste by 117 Full Garbage Bags a Day

Leadership in waste management is not always easy to come by and so when we see corporations lead, we think it to be extremely important to reward that behaviour. That’s why we’d like to highlight the efforts of a certain food court that’s done a great job at maximizing recycling efforts and improving their waste management program.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre reduced their Waste by 117 Full Garbage Bags a Day

The collective of business leaders at Yorkdale Shopping Centre have done an incredible job at eliminating over 117 bags of garbage a day, while targeting food court recyclables and compostable products. How Yorkdale Mall was able to do this is rather impressive. Replacing single-use plates and cutlery, Yorkdale was able to completely change around the way it does waste management in its food court. As an added bonus, it’s also brought with it more hours and more jobs. Every week now, the shopping centre’s food court washes approximately 75,000 dishes and 53,000 pieces of cutlery. Assuming this same approach were to be taken at other food courts across Toronto, there’s no telling what we might be able to accomplish!

Before the change, waste management at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre wasn’t necessarily a huge issue for them. After all, all they had to do was collect it, bag it, ship it out to pick-up, and off it would go. Though it wasn’t a problem for Yorkdale Mall, it’s easy to recognize how this amount of waste could be an issue for the community. After all, the Yorkdale food court serves 24,000 customers every day. That’s a lot of waste that needs to be accounted for. The fact that management at Yorkdale would take the initiative to reduce their waste output says a lot about their priorities and the impact they see know they have on the community around them. Their efforts have reduced the average 120 garbage bags a day they used to produce down to an impressive three.

To any stakeholder who may have doubted the plausibility of a waste reduction this size, they’ve been proven wrong. These efforts have also come at virtually no cost to the customer, who are still able to request and opt-in for a takeout container. Looking around the food court, a customer will also see no garbage cans present. This was meant to send a clear sign that customers are not tasked with separation of materials or anything. All a customer needs to do is hand over their tray with everything on it and employees at Yorkdale do the rest. Yorkdale Mall continues to be actively engaged in recycling what they can and composting what they can, all in an effort to reduce the waste that goes out. In an era when commercial businesses, institutions, and industrial operations are sending exponentially more waste to our landfills than households are, this is welcome news.

Canadians are estimated to spend more than $600 million every year eating at limited-service eating places, such as food courts. In some food courts, as little as 12 percent of total waste is recycled or composed, despite the fact that anywhere from 60-75 percent could be. Regarding shopping mall waste management initiatives, Yorkdale has proved it can be done. We salute the great work that Yorkdale Mall has done at reducing its waste output and we hope more malls will follow their lead in the months to come!

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/583-yorkdale-shopping-centre-reduced-their-waste-by-117-full-garbage-bags-a-day.html

Are There Items your Local Landfill could refuse to take in Ontario – yes, there is

Surprising to some residents, landfills across Ontario are permitted to enact restrictions on what they are willing to accept and what they won’t. If you are curious as to whether a landfill may accept a certain item, we best recommend calling ahead or hiring a junk removal/waste management firm to do the work for you. Here’s a quick list of some of the items a local landfill may not take.

Are There Items your Local Landfill could refuse to take in Ontario – yes, there is

Mattresses and box springs

Few landfills will accept a mattress or box spring. Why is because a mattress cannot be compressed. That means they take a large amount of space and that’s something most dumps are not willing to give up without reason. In an age when City officials are trying to limit the amount of space waste takes up, it’s not uncommon to see mattresses refused on these grounds. Furthermore, the metal springs found in many mattresses have the potential to clog up machinery and the toxic chemicals found in some mattresses can seep out into ground water.

Prescription medications and medical supplies

No landfill is going to take anything that falls under the banner of hazardous waste. Prescription medications, most medical supplies, and syringes fall into this category. These products are dangerous to animals and harmful to the environment. For this reason, syringes should be put into a puncture proof container prior to disposal at a hazardous waste drop-off site. Medications should also be returned to the pharmacy where they will have the means to dispose of them.

Fridges or freezers

Fridges and freezers are accepted in some landfills and in others, refused. To those who do accept them, they may do so at a fee. Why this is the case is because some fridges contain an ozone-depleting substance known as ‘Freon’, which needs to be removed safely. For landfills with no means of disposing of Freon safely, they may have to refuse accepting these products.

Other appliances

Stoves, air conditioners, hot water heaters, dehumidifiers, and more cannot be thrown out with the garbage. They oftentimes require careful disposal, due to the chemicals involved. Be sure to contact an experienced waste management and junk removal company for assistance.

Ammunition

If you are attempting to dispose of any gun-related ammunition, ensure it’s done properly. Do not bring these to the landfill. Assuming there’s ever a fire or if they get heated up to the right temperature, they can fire off. The best way to get rid of ammunition in Ontario is to call one’s local police department. They should be able to take it off your hands and dispose of it. If they refuse to do, ask them for their recommendation on where to dispose of it. For example, they may suggest bringing them to a local gun range.

Instead of trying to determine what a landfill will and won’t accept, contact a representative at Core Mini Bins. We would be happy to arrange pick-up for whatever waste and items you may have. Fees and removal charges are all laid out plain and simple for you to see. We will take care of the rest and ensure that anything that can be recycled is, in fact, recycled. The remainder of your waste removal collection will be sent to the appropriate parties for safe disposal.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/581-are-there-items-your-local-landfill-could-refuse-to-take-in-ontario-yes-there-is.html

What are the 3 Basic Recycling Categories in Toronto and Ontario – read here!

There’s a lot of waste produced every year in Toronto and only a percentage of it is currently recyclable. While we aim, as a city, to reduce consumption of non-recyclables, thankfully, there’s a lot of market opportunities to make the most of the recyclable garbage we create.

What are the 3 Basic Recycling Categories in Toronto and Ontario – read here!

The more that we recycle and reuse, the less that ends up in our landfills. Throughout the years and to this day, so much waste ends up in our landfills that doesn’t need to. Toronto businesses and citizens continue to limit waste through various initiatives. Though new recycling opportunities are being developed every day, here are the basic categories of recycling in Toronto.

Paper

Paper recycling was one of the first categories to develop and has been a vital component to recycling in Toronto. Under the guise of protecting trees from being cut down, paper recycling has been extremely successful at its intended goal. To recycle paper products, they must be sorted and separated, filtering out impurities which are usually ink, glue, staples, and similar items. After this paper stew of sorts has been filtered, it can be bleached and reused in a variety of related products. Adding new pulp to the paper may be done to strengthen it.

Glass

Glass recycling is another category of recycling in Ontario that was one of the earliest to develop. To recycle glass, the process can be quite time-consuming and tricky. To begin, glass products must be disinfected before it can be entered into recycling. Then, it is sorted by color. After it’s been sorted, the glass is grinded, impurities are eliminated using lasers and magnets, and then, the glass is melted down and reformed into different glass materials. Recycling glass ultimately reduces the energy and money invested into creating new, non-recycled glass products.

Plastics

The last recycling category on our list is plastics. There are some plastics that are easily recyclable and others that are not. As most plastics are non-biodegradable, much movement has been done in creating processes and manufacturing facilities to process the material. Plastics are always sorted according to type. Then, it is melted down into pellets or turned into fibre. Recycled plastics can then be applied into different products, common to the construction industry or clothing industry.

Recycling is absolutely vital to Toronto’s long-term prospects

As the years continue to pass, thankfully, more major recycling categories are being added every decade. As we continue to reduce our landfill waste, reduce our consumption of single-use non-recyclable products, and expand our capacity to recycle, the sky’s the limit for Toronto. Every material recycled comes with a different method, has a different market, and has its unique challenges. We hope more stakeholders in the GTA come to the table in the months ahead to continue building the infrastructure necessary to expand recycling operations across the City. There are incredible benefits to be seen by keeping products out of our landfills and using less resources to produce new product.

As a prominent waste management company in Toronto, Ontario, we do our best to recycle as much as we can from our collection service. If you’re eager to recycle and believe you have materials that can be reused, don’t hesitate to reach out. A representative would be happy to advise on what the recycling potential is of your waste.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/580-what-are-the-3-basic-recycling-categories-in-toronto-and-ontario-read-here.html

North America’s Fashion Industries still create Large Amounts of Waste

The fashion industry has a waste management problem that not a lot of people are talking about. Notoriously poor at managing their waste, the fashion industry throws out jeans, sweaters, jackets, and shoes every day that are sent to the landfill and never heard from again. Furthermore, so many of the world’s top designers and high fashion retailers do not have established waste management and recycling processes in place, according to a recent BBC report.

North America’s Fashion Industries still create Large Amounts of Waste 

Being a part of the fashion industry, you know there’s going to be waste. Through all the adjustments that need to be made on clothing, the products that don’t sell, and the products that are ready to be tossed from use, it can be argued that every article of fashion eventually becomes waste to some degree. Despite other industries seeking to improve their waste management processes, the fashion industry has failed to manage its waste costs and has arguably failed at meeting its corporate and/or social responsibility.

Globally, clothing production has doubled since 2004. Trends in the last decade show that clothing is being worn for a shorter period of time before being discarded. Despite this gigantic increase in consumption, it’s estimated that less than one percent of all clothing is recycled into new products. Why this is the case, many point out, has to do with the complexity of the polyester materials used. Unlike in other industries, there’s no signs of consumption lowering nor is there a push to lower it as that would mean gutting sales. In response, much of the focus in this space turns towards waste management and possible recycling opportunities.

There are many different approaches one can take to help companies reduce waste to landfill. The first step that many waste management companies are taking is to find better ways to make the most of the materials being thrown out. There’s a real lack of opportunity to reuse fashion industry materials so it’s our hope that more firms will investigate the potential uses at play.

The other side of the coin evidently is to change the materials being used to make this clothing to make it more environmentally-friendly and with the capacity to be recycled. This is a responsibility that falls on the fashion industry and it’s unclear how much the industry wants to change. There are many practical steps that can be used to increase products’ recycling potential. To this point, it’s ultimately up to fashion’s biggest corporations on whether they wish to change.

In Canada, we can’t emphasize it enough, if you have clothing, bring it to a local organization who can use it. Depending on what Toronto neighborhood you’re in, there’s likely to be a local organization who can accept any clothing you may want to give up.

As a waste management and recycling company in Toronto, we would love to assist in ridding yourself of any junk you don’t need anymore. If you have any clothing or household items you need to get off your hands, don’t hesitate to speak with a representative at Core Mini Bins today. We would be happy to recommend a waste pick-up solution and arrange for junk removal. Please feel encouraged to ask about our same day service. Even when/if you’re in a bind, we will do our best to make the necessary arrangements to help out.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/579-north-america-s-fashion-industries-still-create-large-amounts-of-waste.html

9 Common Household Items and How to Recycle Them in Toronto

How to recycle certain kinds of household waste in Toronto is not always so clear. Though paper and soda bottles are pretty straightforward in what’s required to recycle them, there seems to be confusion among some Torontonians on what is recyclable and what isn’t here in the City. There are some items you might expect to be recyclable when in fact they’re not. Here’s a quick rundown of popular household items that may or may not be recyclable.

9 Common Household Items and How to Recycle Them in Toronto

Styrofoam = non-recyclable (sort of)

Styrofoam can come in two different grades. There’s the foam cushion and food packaging kind, and then there’s the blue or pink insulation board kind. The foam cushion and food packaging type can be recycled while the other kind cannot. That said, the process to recycle this kind of styrofoam can be somewhat intensive. The lack of accessibility to styrofoam recycling processes is why it’s a common source of criticism among environmental activists.

Yard and lawn by-products = non-recyclable

Lawn trimmings and yard by-products surprisingly are not recyclable. They need to be carefully recycled as they can actually contaminate recycling, causing more waste to be sent to the landfill than is necessary.

Fluorescent light bulbs = non-recyclable

Fluorescent light bulbs cannot be recycled nor disposed of at the landfill. They are technically classified as a non-recyclable and need to be carefully processed.

Paint cans = non-recyclable

Paint empties of any kind are non-recyclable and cannot be thrown out with the regular trash either. Paint cans and any paint-related products must be provide to paint disposal companies or facilities. This is the safest and recommended way to dispose of these.

Prescription medications = non-recyclable

If you have any prescription medications in your home that need to go, do not throw them out in the regular garbage or flush them down the toilet. Instead, bring them to your pharmacy.

Cardboard = recyclable

Cardboard is recyclable in Toronto. Even boxes that have been stained such as in the case of a pizza box can potentially be recycled. The unfortunate thing about cardboard is that many sorts of liquid or food contamination can completely ruin their recyclability. Cardboard is commonly reused in the form of pulp before becoming new cardboard or similar materials.

Scrap metal = recyclable

If you have scrap metal laying around the garage or the home, it’s not garbage. In fact, scrap metal can be melted down and reused in other metal products quite easily. Scrap metal is a product made for recycling.

Mattresses and box springs = non-recyclable

Though there are materials in mattresses and box springs that could be recycled, these sleeping products are not inherently marketed as recyclable. Torontonians looking to get rid of their mattress will eventually be sending it to the landfill.

Batteries = recyclable (sort of)

Standard household batteries, most lead batteries, and most acid car batteries will need to be taken to the landfill or collected along with hazardous materials. After they have arrived at the correct facility however, most batteries can actually be recycled. For car batteries, if there’s a disposal service provided at your local mechanic, we recommend using it to save on the trip.

We take waste disposal very seriously at Core Mini Bins. If you have any questions related to waste management, recycling, or junk removal, don’t hesitate to give us a call to speak with a representative

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/578-9-common-household-items-and-how-to-recycle-them-in-toronto.html

Toronto to get its First Organic Renewable Gas Energy Site in 2019

The City of Toronto, in agreement with Enbridge, is seeking to build its very first organic renewable gas energy site. To be located at the Dufferin organic waste processing facility already established, the site is looking to take organic waste and turn it over into energy by 2019.

Toronto to get its First Organic Renewable Gas Energy Site in 2019 

It’s estimated as much as 50 percent of the average Toronto household’s waste is organic. The Enbridge-run organic renewable gas energy site is seeking to capture, clean, and use methane in the same way that we currently use and produce natural gas. A move highly praised, methane is both carbon neutral and has the same eco-friendly benefits as renewable electricity sources.

The City of Toronto has expressed tremendous excitement at the possibility of the project serving to further offset the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. The renewable natural gas produced from this energy site will be used to inject into the natural gas distribution system that fuels the same city-owned waste management trucks tasked with picking up green bin waste.

It’s believed sites like these could play a fundamental role in the future of Ontario’s conventional natural gas supply. The province’s Ministry of Energy has already estimated it could replace up to 15 percent of Ontario’s conventional natural gas by 2035. The City of Toronto believes the organic renewable gas energy site can generate more than 5 million cubic metres per year – more than enough to fuel up to 90 percent of the City of Toronto’s fleet of garbage trucks.

As a waste management company In Toronto, we are thrilled at the possibility of more facilities like this. Toronto has put forth some big goals, including a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by eighty percent by year 2050. Though the City has not shared how it plans to achieve this, we believe that it’s initiatives like this that are going to get us there. Creating a more sustainable future is about building waste facilities like this that maximize our waste output as best as we can. The opportunity to produce organic-based renewable gas energy is promising for a future where Toronto’s environment receives the protection it rightfully deserves.

Though this is the first of its kind, imagine more facilities across the City to turn waste into energy. The proliferation of these kinds of waste management and recycling facilities have the potential to create new markets, complete with jobs and economic activity. Initiatives like Enbridge’s organic renewable gas site can provide clean, low-carbon energy options that are more affordable while still being able to heat our homes, keep our lights on, and power our vehicles. Natural gas is the cleanest burning conventional fuel we have. This new renewable gas is equal in environmental benefit to natural gas and could eliminate it altogether in time.

If you are a Toronto business in need of waste management, recycling, or garbage removal, a representative at Core Mini Bins would be happy to answer any questions and set you up with the right recommended service. As we continue to partner with waste management facilities across the GTA, every job we take comes with a guarantee that we will make the most of your waste – recycling what we can and ensuring all waste is properly processed.

Source : https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/waste-collection-removal-disposal-blog/577-toronto-to-get-its-first-organic-renewable-gas-energy-site-in-2019.html