Wednesday 31 July 2019

Sorting Waste and Recyclables in Toronto is not as Straightforward as it Seems

You wouldn’t think trash and recyclables would be so difficult to tell apart however processing plants in Toronto beg to differ. Across the City, there’s no question there’s uneven education on what ‘waste’ is and what is ‘recyclable’.
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Sorting Waste and Recyclables in Toronto is not as Straightforward as it Seems


In our experience, Torontonians routinely cross-contaminate recycling with waste and subsequently end up tossing away recyclables. This is just the beginning of the obstacles the city faces regarding how to recycle and how to simplify its complex waste management system.
City-wide waste management is resident-funded. The system is designed using a blue-box and green-bin infrastructure. Accurate separation of product is integral for this system to function as intended. Sadly, there’s a lot of contamination which happens particularly as it relates to food waste stains, oily paper, old clothes, and non-recyclables which some assume to be recyclable. As these things are tossed in, they cause machines to break down and/or adds time to separation.
A solution to the City’s recycling woes, some argue, is education. If residents know what goes where and what’s recyclable, it’s assumed this will reduce contamination rates. A public education campaign may have mixed results though. Toronto’s a multi-cultural city which constantly welcomes in new residents and tourists from across Canada and the world. Even if today’s population were fully educated on how to dispose of the different types of waste, within a year, contamination rates would arguably begin to increase again as new people move in.
It’s unclear on what should be the way forward but it is inarguable something needs to be done. This year’s Toronto city budget is now forecast for a shortfall of $10 million, in part trigged by China refusing to accept certain recyclables and increases we’ve seen in bin contamination which inflates processing costs. It’s also estimated as much as 25 percent of what ends up in Toronto’s blue bins should in fact be in the green bin.
Even with all this to contend with, Toronto still manages impressive waste diversion of approximately 53 percent. For every bit of good news though, there’s some bad. Though 53 percent is decent, the goal for years has been 70 percent.
A recent study analyzing Torontonians’ relationship with waste disposal report feelings of confusion, frustration, and a desire for information that has not been provided to them. As a waste management company, we believe everyone wants to do the right thing. So, from our perspective, it’s a matter of giving them the information and the means.
In the last year, Toronto has slowly been engaging in an education plan. Initiatives include the Waste Wizard online tool, the TOwaste smartphone app which advertises collection standards and depot locations, and an advertising campaign with the Toronto Raptors promoting proper waste collection. The Ontario government is also in talks to find a way for producers of waste to be responsible for the waste they create. Implementing this would take the focus off municipal recycling costs a little bit.
As we look ahead, we know the City is listening and we know the province is listening. As a premiere Toronto waste management and recycling company, we hope more will be done to reduce contamination rates and improve costs. The current system does not function to the degree that one would hope, unfortunately. Contact Core Mini Bins today for waste management and recycling services for residential and commercial customers across the GTA.

Thursday 25 July 2019

A Brief 2018-2019 Recycling Market Report for Ontario, Canada

Since 2017, major changes have happened in Canada’s recycling markets. Though some are positive, the negatives have led to a decline in global recycling commodity prices which has greatly impacted Canada’s abilities to recycle.
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A Brief 2018-2019 Recycling Market Report for Ontario, Canada


In some examples, value of materials has collapsed to zero and in select cases, there’s even negative value per metric tonne. Declines in cardboard and mixed in particular have shown to produce a lower value than preferred. While understandable how commodities in recycling have a value which fluctuates according to market forces, the industry is still reeling from big cuts.
Though this 2018-2019 recycling report for Ontario, Canada is dealing with Canadian data, it’s impossible to discuss this province without including Asia in the conversation. Asian end markets for recycling continue to change, getting stricter on what they’ll accept and denying anything which doesn’t meet the standard. There’s much uncertainty there regarding demand as well. New material quality requirements seem to come out every six months from places like China which affects how lucrative recycling and waste disposal is to regions like Toronto, Ontario.
China’s new environmental commitment is not inherently a bad thing. Like Canada, China deserves a healthy environment. That said, a sudden change in policy has meant temporarily instability in worldwide recycling markets resulting in instability here at home. Inspections of inbound recycling materials into China and the elimination of import of 24 materials into the country has left some Canadian stakeholders trying to figure out how to dispose of its recyclables.
Here in Toronto, Ontario, we read about the construction of new recycling and processing plants. Though wonderful news, the fate of the recycling market right now is in the hands of the development of end market. It’s ‘end markets’ which handle the processing of recycling and selling of it out as re-manufactured product.
Vital to both residential and commercial recycling, Canada has many end market relationships in place however more are certainly needed. Although we do a great job at collecting recyclables, without an end market, those same recycling materials need to be landfilled and that’s what we want to avoid. Recyclables cannot be saved indefinitely.
All of this highlights how blended the Canadian recycling industry is with non-Canadian stakeholders. If Canada is to achieve its own robust, zero-waste economy, it’s going to need to work alongside other markets to end the practice of recycling ending up in landfills.
Naturally, Ontario has some amazing waste management and recycling prospects going for it. As we continue to develop Ontario-based facilities to handle our own recycling, it will be very interesting to see where the provincial industry is at a decade from now. Ideally, at that time, we would have developed the means to be closer than ever to a zero waste economy. This should entail improving waste diversion and increasing recycling numbers across residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
For all of your waste management, recycling, and junk removal needs, contact Core Mini Bins to speak with a representative. Always happy to connect Torontonians to the right waste management services, we’ll help with collection and disposal, ensuring anything that can be recycled is. Looking ahead, we hope to be a part of the solution in fostering growth within Ontario’s waste and recycling industries.

Wednesday 24 July 2019

Junk Removal and Recycling for a Home Renovation is Important to Cleaning Up

Cleaning up after a home renovation is the least fun part of the process. Might we recommend a junk removal service or dumpster/bin rental. Using either of these, it eliminates a lot of the challenges that come with not having a vehicle to haul away those large chunks of garbage, debris, and waste. Remember, if you’ve got junk to get off your property, speaking with a local Toronto junk removal company provides an easy fix.
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Junk Removal and Recycling for a Home Renovation is Important to Cleaning Up


The average Canadian household does not have the excessive space to accommodate renovation junk. Not only that but physically taking this waste to a landfill or processing facility is not realistic. Browsing junk removal and home renovation cleanup companies, you’ll notice that some even offer same-day service. This is great for anyone with a lot of waste that needs to be moved fast. Maximize efficiency across your home renovation by partnering with a company you trust. Junk removal services can be arranged either via pick-up or through a dumpster rental.
Organize it!
As you generate your waste across your home renovation project, ensure you keep it organized prior to disposal. Keeping materials organized is key as recycling depots, dumps, and landfills like to know what they are receiving.
Another benefit of organization is that it allows a company like us to determine whether any of your home renovation materials can be recycled or repurposed. Any junk removal company you hire should have some commitment to eco-friendly practices. Just so you know, if there’s a way to recycle the junk we receive, we always will.
Waste Regulations
There are some local Toronto waste regulations to keep in mind when removing junk and home renovation waste. For example, drywall disposal is strictly regulated. They may need to be put into special bags and disposed of separately.
Things like electronics, concrete, damaged furniture, unusable wood, and plastics all come with their own unique possibilities for eco-friendly disposal. Be sure to ask your local processing facility or waste management company if there are any special considerations to take in preparing your renovation materials for disposal.
Do I Need a Bin Rental for Home Renovation
For some, the best option for home renovation junk removal will be a bin rental. Using a bin, you’ll get more space than any trailer or truck can offer, and makes it easy to dispose of renovation materials at local recycling centres, junkyards, or landfills.
Speaking to a representative at a dumpster rental or bin rental company, you can choose from various sizes, customizing your bin according to how much renovation waste you are expecting to handle. No matter if it’s a bin rental, dumpster rental, or junk removal service you’re going to tap into, it’ll save time and hassle throughout the home renovation process. Using services like these, organize and dispose of junk in the most environmentally responsible, cost-effective way.
If you are interested in more information regarding cleaning up your property after a home renovation, contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today. Choose from a range of different home renovation cleanup options. As a Toronto waste management company, we’ll work with you to find everything you need to complete your home renovation in the most waste-efficient manner possible.

Monday 22 July 2019

Electronics and Computer Waste in Canada needs to be Properly Disposed of

Comprised of so many different components, electronics are not your average waste product. Proper disposal requires careful consideration and any electronics or computer waste should be separated from one’s general trash. How to dispose of electronics in Canada centers on policies designed to protect the environment. There’s so many ways electronics can be reused and/or discarded in a responsible way. There’s no excuse to let these products end up in our landfills.
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Electronics and Computer Waste in Canada needs to be Properly Disposed of


Using a Waste Management Company for E-Waste
There are some provincial electronic recycling programs out there and there are also waste management companies willing to take your electronic waste. These services were designed to fill the gap that exists in garbage collection as few municipalities will pick up electronics. If you don’t have a drop-off location in your local region, you may want to seek out services from a company specializing in electronic waste and disposal of unwanted electronics.
Returning your Electronics to Where you Bought Them
Some retailers and electronic manufacturers may have drop-off programs allowing customers to return their electronics for disposal. Some of the stores that have accepted electronics for recycling in the past include Best Buy, Staples, Apple, Bell, Telus, and others. We recommend checking in with them over the phone before bringing them a haul of electronics. If you can’t drop them off there, your manufacturer may be willing to take back their product.
Making a Donation
If your electronics are still useable, such as in the case of an older cell phone or computer, one of the best things you can do is to donate them to a local charity. That way, they can be given to individuals in need and continue to serve a purpose. Some Ontario charities are also accepting electronics for recycling. Consider checking with your local charities ahead of time to find out whether they are accepting anything like this.
Hiring an Electronics Waste Management Company
For anyone looking to make it fast, easy, and simple, hire a junk removal company. A waste management company like this can properly dispose of electronics, recycling what can be recycled, donating what can be donated, and ensuring what’s disposed of is done the right way. For large electronics like older TVs, stereo sound systems, and larger appliances, hiring a junk removal company can help in coordinating disposal. You won’t have to worry about a thing! Hauling away your old electronics, you’ll know they’re being disposed of in the most efficient way.
Increasing Amounts of E-Waste in Canada
When electronics waste is not handled properly, it hurts our environment and has long-term consequences. As e-waste continues to grow in Canada, this is an area of waste management that needs to be more carefully examined. Many municipalities have not acknowledged its importance and subsequently, have failed to establish policy relating to computer waste processing.
Today, to properly dispose of electronics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, contact a junk removal company. Core Mini Bins is available for same-day service, if/when required. We offer same-day pick-up, junk removal, dumpster rentals, bin rentals, and so much more. As a premiere Toronto waste removal company, we can help in giving you the peace of mind in knowing your electronics are being processed right. Call us today.

Saturday 20 July 2019

Canada Wasting up to $31 Billion in Food Waste every Year

Across Canada, food waste is a growing concern with approximately 40 percent of all food produced here being thrown out and discarded. That’s more than $31 billion annually. There are a lot of reasons as to why. In many cases, some blame grocers and organizations selling food. They’ve been criticized for throwing out foods past expiry when there are opportunities to donate. There are also reported issues with overproduction and overstocking.
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Canada Wasting up to $31 Billion in Food Waste every Year


Looking to make a change
If Canada’s going to see reductions on its $31 billion in food waste, organizations like Second Harvest might serve as a guiding light. Second Harvest is a Toronto charity connecting non-profit organizations in Ontario with food suppliers and distributors. When there is excess food, it gets distributed amongst these organizations. Coordination initiatives like this serve a great purpose and, if applied across Canada, could make an immense difference.
In its efforts, Second Harvest has established relationships with more than 300 organizations in the province. Through these relationships, things like produce, meat, and dairy are distributed with ease. They are far from the only initiative doing this sort of thing either, with the Vancouver-based FoodMesh and the Provision Coalition both being other examples. In addition to these independent stakeholders, corporations like Walmart are also heavily involved in reducing their part in food waste. By 2025, Walmart is committed to reducing their food waste to zero.
Where food waste in Canada is coming from
According to a CBC report, more than half of the food waste produced in Canada comes from food being discarded by farmers, food manufactures, and distributors. Examples include an inability to see produce or fruit that has blemishes or that has been grown in strange shapes, batches of bread and baked goods that do not come out as planned, and grocery stores that over-order what they need only to see a lot of it reach their best-before date.
Though this is just the cost of doing business for most, the environmental consequences are hard to ignore. In addition, there are vulnerable Canadian populations struggling to feed themselves and millions of people going hungry. As long as the food is edible and still healthy, there’s no reason not to re-purpose it in some way to feed ourselves. In essence, that’s the importance of organizations like Second Harvest.
Where we go from here
Knowing the billions being thrown away in food waste every year, there’s a lot of positive development happening. As we look ahead, as a waste management company, we’d like to play our role in continuing to push towards a zero waste future.
Though a huge undertaking, reductions in the amount of food we throw out is a massive component of Canada’s walk toward a more eco-friendly future. The food we don’t throw away can be donated and used to feed potentially millions of people in dire need of it. Furthermore, donations can be made on products related to furniture, electronics, and other waste items – all in the name of repurposing and reusing these among individuals who need them.
For more information on how you can reduce your waste, contact Core Mini Bins. Specializing in waste management and recycling, we’ll maximize your waste materials and ensure they are handled in the most environmentally-friendly way.

Wednesday 17 July 2019

Is Construction Waste in Toronto, Ontario being Recycled or Can the Province do More – read here!

A recent study published analyzing Ontario municipalities’ treatment of construction waste demonstrates there’s a mix of approaches, some working well and others not so much.
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Is Construction Waste in Toronto, Ontario being Recycled or Can the Province do More – read here!


Construction waste varies from gravel to concrete, sand, asphalt, and more. Beyond general construction materials, millions of tonnes of reusable asphalt and concrete aggregate are produced every year in Ontario.
Though the majority of it is used in construction and road development projects, regional policies can sometimes make it more difficult to recycle these sorts of aggregate products. Sadly, the result is that millions of tonnes of otherwise recyclable aggregate is being tossed into landfills, which is a taxpayer expense.
In Toronto, we are a region that produces a high amount of construction waste. At any time, there’s dozens of major construction projects at various stages of completion. Aggregate materials recycling is a necessity in this environment. We have the potential to reduce wear and tear on our public roads, conserve raw aggregate resources in an environmentally-friendly method, and to ensure our landfills remain reserved for only materials deemed absolutely necessary.
Large municipalities in Ontario predominantly prohibit or restrict the use of recycled aggregate materials for major road and/or infrastructure projects. Subsequently, the majority of Ontario’s large municipalities also either do not allow or only partially allow the use of recycled materials in the base and fill below pavement, on unpaved shoulders, and concrete slabs. Considering this, the only place where municipalities unequivocally agree aggregate materials can be used is in building construction access roads and/or bicycle paths.
This has created an unfair system of construction where so many materials are being thrown into landfills, instead of being used in the repair and maintenance of our roads and in infrastructure projects.
If Ontario is serious about its long-term environmental commitment, this is an area of recycling and waste management to look at. Toronto, in particular, is not making use of aggregate materials like it could be. There is room for growth and improvement, and it’s our hope that in the years to come, Toronto does not sit on its laurels and that we as a society continue to chase environmentally sustainable methods of construction waste reuse and recycling.
Though Toronto tops the list of municipalities in Ontario with the best aggregate recycling use, there’s still more work to be done in the GTA and abroad. According to a recent report published by the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association, the worst offenders in the province are the Niagara Region, the Durham Region, Peel Region, Oshawa, and Mississauga.
Why regions are not making full use of its aggregate construction waste varies in reasoning. Perceptions of weak performance or lack of reliability are popular. Though public safety is top priority, in this day and age, the view that new construction material is safer than recycled materials is not accurate. Needless to say, perception needs to change and we, as a province, need to do better.
As one of Toronto’s top waste management and recycling companies, Core Mini Bins wants an environmentally sustainable for ourselves and our families. We encourage municipalities to use safe, high quality aggregate materials in the building and maintenance of infrastructure. There’s opportunities here to decrease costs and increase efficiencies. Let’s make it happen!

Tuesday 16 July 2019

Is a ‘Pay as you Throw’ Policy worth Considering for Toronto Waste Management – a new plan

Imagine a system where every time you put garbage out to the curb, later that month, you’d receive a bill in the mail for ‘garbage services rendered’.
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Is a ‘Pay as you Throw’ Policy worth Considering for Toronto Waste Management – a new plan


This is a system supported and being proposed by some environmental groups across Canada as a way of reducing waste production. The idea behind it would essentially be a tax to municipal governments supporting waste management efforts any time one puts out garbage.
Conversely, should a home not put out any garbage, they don’t receive a bill at all. Though proponents say this incentivizes waste reduction and creates a more efficient system, some have argued it could have a negative impact on companies or households looking to avoid a bill and choosing to dispose of their waste by illegal means.
Inarguably, any Canadian city using flat monthly fees for waste collection do not see the same waste reduction incentivization. In fact, for argument’s sake, a system like this may support high waste output. For households putting out high amounts of waste, the services they receive are subsidized by households who put out less than average and who still have to pay the same collection fee.
A report released in October, 2018 by Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, a non-partisan research group advocates for an alternative approach to waste collection compared to this ‘flat fee’ system currently used.
The ‘pay as you throw’ system would save money in the long-term, according to the CEC report, and here’s how. Torontonians would have to pay a fee any time they put out their garbage bin. If you don’t put out the bin, you pay no fee and garbage collection services don’t have to pick up your bin resulting in higher efficiencies. If a Torontonian has a bin that isn’t full, why put it out for collection when you can save it until next week – this is the argument being made.
Subsequently, adopting a ‘pay as you throw’ system would presumably reduce property taxes resulting in user fees being the sole financial source of support for garbage collection. Every Canadian city works a little different when it comes to how they fund their waste collection services and the systems they use to support waste management. For example, the City of Calgary uses a combination of property taxes and monthly fees for garbage collection. Comparatively, Beaconsfield, Quebec has a waste collection system where households pay 40 cents for small bin pick-up and $1.20 for large bin pick-up.
Notwithstanding, a major barrier to implementing a change like this is that the City of Toronto would need to track which homes put out a bin and which ones do not. Some have argued it’s possible to do this using small RFID tags which can be quickly scanned to uniquely identify each bin as it is picked up by a garbage collector and dumped. Nevertheless, the model using RFID tags have been proven. For example, Calgary uses RFID tags to identify bins in need of maintenance and the small community of Beaconsfield, Quebec also uses RFID tags to track bins in its pay-as-you-throw system.
Would such a system work for a city as large as Toronto and with as many diverse waste management needs as we have here – this remains unclear. If there are significant cost savings that can be identified, a ‘pay as you throw’ system might be something for City Council to examine in the years to come.

Saturday 13 July 2019

6 Reasons people Rent Dumpsters and seek Waste Management Services

Any Toronto home or business wants to dispose of its garbage in a fast, environmentally efficient, and easy way. As a waste management company, we absolutely understand that need and we do our best to provide that with our high quality Toronto dumpster rental services. Every day, we receive requests from across the GTA requesting dumpster rentals, bin rentals, and collection services. These are just a few of the reasons people come to us seeking a bin rental.
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6 Reasons people Rent Dumpsters and seek Waste Management Services


1 – Home Renovation Dumpster Rentals
Home renovations come with a wide range of responsibilities, including applying for permits, reviewing building codes, material purchasing, hiring workers, and keeping everything on budget. Dumpster bin rentals for home renovations can help keep a project on budget and on time, making waste collection easy. Providing same day drop-off, give us a call and fill up your bin with renovation waste as needed. Give us a call when you’re done, and we’ll come and pick it up, ensuring your home renovation stays on track.
2 – Landscaping Bin Rentals
In the summer, landscaping is a passionate for many Canadians. Coming in all shapes and sizes, a successful landscaping project takes planning to keep costs low. Every landscaper needs a location to put all of the yard waste they’re about to create. Consider renting a bin to take in all those bulky branches, dead trees, shrubs, stumps, dirt, rocks, and lawn trimming materials. Make the job infinitely easier when you have a place to toss all of your landscaping waste. Also, instead of handling the waste removal yourself, have the support of an entire company to help!
3 – Small Business Dumpster Rental
Small businesses with a high waste output may require their own dedicated dumpster. There’s several different varieties and sizes to choose from, and each are great solutions for eliminating clutter, providing a central location to put waste to, and help cut costs on waste production. A massive cost for small businesses is clean-up, particularly on larger projects with sizeable amount of garbage. Make it easy for yourself by partnering with a dumpster rental company who can oversee everything from drop-off to pick-up and environmentally-friendly disposal.
4 – Construction Site Bin Rental
Commercial construction sites produce significant garbage, including many materials that are recyclable. Partnering with a dumpster rental company can ensure materials are collected and disposed of properly. Choose from different bin sizes and save yourself the hassle of having to look after your own waste management. We’ll take care of everything. Toss in concrete, drywall, dirt, roofing, trash, or general junk. Instead of having it scattered on the ground, you’ll have it ready for pick-up. Save time, money, and efficiency with a dedicated dumpster on-site.
5 – Office Cleanout Bin Dumpster Rental
If you’re moving offices, have to clear out a bunch of old office furniture, and/or are selling off your assets and closing up shop, this can be extremely challenging. If you don’t have your own means of getting rid of things like furniture, appliances, old electronics, and office equipment, you’re left with a lot to manage. A dumpster rental with all services included make an office cleanup affordable and easy. Consider it before you’re stuck with a bunch of garbage and nowhere to put it.
6 – Estate Cleanouts Bin Rentals
Having to deal with someone’s estate is an overwhelming process. Using a bin rental, it can make things easier in terms of having pick-up and disposal of estate materials pre-arranged. As draining as an estate cleanout can be on a person physically and emotionally, junk removal and/or a dumpster rental is an easy way to get the things you’re not keeping shipped off.
These are the top 6 reasons people rent dumpsters and seek waste management services. Visit Core Mini Bins’ website today to speak with a representative at Toronto’s top bin and dumpster rental company.

Wednesday 10 July 2019

Using Dumpster Rentals and Bin Rentals in Toronto to prevent Illegal Dumping

Illegal dumping is a real concern in Toronto, Ontario. Illegal dumping leads to waste getting into our waterways and potentially hazardous materials being released into our environment not having been processed.
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Using Dumpster Rentals and Bin Rentals in Toronto to prevent Illegal Dumping


Using dumpster rentals and bin rentals, help to support an environmentally-friendly future with no illegal dumping. Across residential, commercial, and industrial construction sites, there’s always going to be waste produced. This is an inevitability. When working on a construction site, a dumpster bin helps to provide an area to input all your waste. There are many advantages to setting up a dumpster bin. And, when hiring a dumpster rental company, pick-ups and drop-offs can be arranged as needed to ensure your construction schedule is accommodated. It’s a great arrangement to help keep things moving in the right directly and to not get bogged down in all that waste.
After you’ve rented a dumpster, drop-off is arranged. The bin rental then sits in front of one’s work site, easily accessible for those on-site. Dump all your waste into the bin as needed. If you have questions on what is or isn’t allowed, you may want to contact your Toronto bin rental company for clarification. It is worth noting, a lot of the time a dumpster rental will be left accessible even when someone is not on site which opens up the possibility of neighbors using the dumpster for various things. This vulnerability is almost unavoidable. It’s a serious concern though, of course. After all, dumping in a ton of food waste could cross-contaminate your materials or dirty up your bin thereby driving up costs. If someone’s dumping furniture inside, that may also drive up costs by taking up valuable real estate.
Before you begin asking yourself about where to rent a dumpster or where to install a bin rental, consider those around you. If there’s a way to prevent access when you are not on-site, that is something you may want to do. If you cannot guarantee protection, that’s ok. If you suspect where the unauthorized waste is coming from, don’t hesitate to speak directly to them. If you don’t know, you may want to install a security camera to investigate. These are all possible options. If you’ve come across these issues in the past, know that there’s always a way to protect yourself. As a disposal bin rental company specializing in dumpster and bin sizes of all varieties, we would be happy to recommend some strategies or to work with you at securing your site.
Handling on-site disposal can sometimes be challenging but it’s the right move to make. It limits illegal dumping and ensures your waste is being put towards the right causes. As a waste management and recycling company, we’ll do our best to maximize every inch of material.
Core Mini Bins has thousands of dumpster rental customers across the GTA. In this time, we’ve helped with residential, commercial, and industrial projects. If you are in need of a dumpster or bin rental in Toronto, don’t hesitate to get in contact. We will do our best to ensure your bin is secured and that any materials submitted to us are either recycled or processed in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. Contact a representative today for more information on how to get started on your Toronto dumpster rental.

Tuesday 9 July 2019

See the Differences between a Commercial and a Residential Demolition Service

Demolition services in Toronto vary according to whether it is for a commercial or residential project.
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See the Differences between a Commercial and a Residential Demolition Service


Commercial Demolition in Toronto
There are two kinds of commercial demolition services – partial demolition and whole demolition. A partial demolition is selective, considering the businesses or off-limits areas around what is being demolished and working around this. A partial demolition may also consider limited budgets or strict timetables. Sometimes, a partial demolition will be recommended, especially in the circumstance of some of Toronto’s historical buildings which the City may want to retain.
Now, a whole demolition is a lot more encompassing and is a full, top to bottom demolition. Using available equipment, whole commercial demolitions work on projects big and small, and maximizes safety on-site. There are certain waste management and recycling standards to adhere to when completing a whole demolition. No matter who is overseeing the demolition services in Toronto, environmental sustainability practices are a must. Be it high-scale commercial or substantially sized industrial projects, whole demolition can be planned in a number of ways.
Residential Demolition in Toronto
A residential demolition in Toronto has many steps. First, there is the hazmat report required, ensuring a property is safe for a demolition. Then, an estimator can be sent out to provide a quote on what a demolition like this may cost. Due to the various shapes and sizes residential homes have, exact costs can vary. A quote should highlight what work is to be done and provide pricing structures, giving you some insight into how to move forward. Subsequently, local government permits are required to be registered prior to beginning work. Be sure all electronic, Internet, and utility services have been disconnected.
Now the fun can begin. Hazmat has to be first removed from your residential space. From there, any hand-based work can be completed to remove what we can from inside the home. Heavy equipment can then be brought in to handle the major deconstructions and demolitions. If there aren’t any unforeseen delays, a sufficient time frame for a residential demolition can be a week. Keep in mind that this varies according to schedule and property, however. After your demolition is completed, materials can be sorted. After material is sorted, what can be recycled can be sent off to the appropriate facilities and the rest can be transported to local landfills for processing.
What to Look for in a Demolition Company
There are many demolition companies offering commercial and residential services, though the best company for the job is going to come with a few things to keep an eye out for. First, you’re going to want a safe, environmentally friendly company who is committed to recycling as much as they can from a demolition. Secondly, you want a competitive price of course. Thirdly, you want someone who is experienced.
Core Mini Bins has completed hundreds of commercial and residential demolition projects in Toronto and the GTA. In this time, we’ve done everything from massive industrial demolitions to small bungalow residential demolitions. Whether it’s wood frame, steel, or concrete, demolition workers at Core Mini Bins can help in tearing it down and clearing the property for construction. For further questions, don’t hesitate to speak with a representative today.

Monday 8 July 2019

Can we Recycle Organic Food Waste into Compostable Plastic – a new Era in Food Waste Management

It’s not every day that we see a game-changing waste and recycling technology come along. Nevertheless, using a type of bacteria, Canadian-based researchers partnering with a Toronto-based start-up have found a way to turn food waste into compostable plastic.
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Can we Recycle Organic Food Waste into Compostable Plastic – a new Era in Food Waste Management


Genecis is a company based at the University of Toronto and they’ve been doing research into how to get the most from the city’s green bin waste. Surprisingly, the company has made a significant discovery. Using waste like banana peels and cardboard takeout containers, Genecis developed a process to produce a petroleum alternative for plastic.
Imagine living in a world where the plastic we use is just as decomposable as the food we waste. Before now, this world has never been possible. The team at Genecis has defied this, producing plastic from biological waste to be theoretically used in straws, coffee pods, and food packaging.
How the team at the University of Toronto was able to do this is a little complicated. The team harnesses a type of bacteria known as PHAs, otherwise referred to as ‘polyhydroxyalkanoates’. This is a plastic-making bacteria that eats waste. It’s pre-processed by other bacteria, essentially manufacturing PHA into smaller, molecular bites. Genecis has referred PHAs as “sort of like the fat of the bacteria”. As PHAs eat, they essentially turn themselves into plastic. This plastic is then extracted from the bacteria and turned into pellets which can then be moulded into plastic products.
A truly amazing discovery, Genecis has already signed an agreement with select Ontario companies who are planning on using these plastic pellets to make coffee pods and plastic printables for 3D printers.
PHA is already in the marketplace internationally and in Canada. As it’s biocompatible and biodegradable, PHAs are already commonly used in medical applications like heart valves and dissolving sutures. The cost of PHAs is what has always prevented them from being used more widespread.
Existing PHAs are made from things like sugar cane, corn, and canola – all quite expensive and as much as 4 times higher than the plastics being used today to manufacture everything from pop bottles to yogurt containers. Now that Genecis has developed a process to create PHA-based plastics from food waste, it’s lowered costs tremendously. The hope is that this will lower PHA production costs by minimum 40 percent.
Companies like this that are able to use food waste to produce compostable products demonstrate how a future could involve zero waste. ‘Waste’ as a concept may not one day actually exist, at least not in its’ current state. Could we one day achieve a future where every product we use is recyclable – potentially. Consumer waste is an opportunity, not a burden. There may be future chances to do wonderful things with waste, similar to what Genecis has done.
As it decomposes, our food waste releases methane, a greenhouse gas up to 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Because of that, Canada’s landfills account for up to 20 percent of Canada’s methane emissions. As we continue to curb emissions via composting, organic food waste recycling facilities, and initiatives through companies like Genecis, there’s no telling what Canada’s future holds. Nevertheless, the waste management and recycling game just got a whole lot more interesting!

Saturday 6 July 2019

How Canada’s Northwest Territories show where There’s a Will, There’s a Way when it Comes to Recycling

We don’t usually associate high efficiency recycling with Canada’s north. That’s not to say they do a bad job at recycling but rather, a lot of the challenges we like to discuss are relevant to larger cities such as Toronto.
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How Canada’s Northwest Territories show where There’s a Will, There’s a Way when it Comes to Recycling


Despite this, something really interesting has happened in the Northwest Territories that we want to highlight. The region implemented a massive recycling program targeting waste across NWT, resulting in saving more than 325 million containers from ending up in landfills, since 2005. Spearheaded by Environment and Natural Resources deputy minister Joe Dragon, this is a huge accomplishment for a region of Canada we don’t often see in the news for such things.
It’s work like this that inspire us here in Toronto that maybe there’s more we all could be doing to increase landfill diversion. Toronto already has some excellent recycling programs in place however even so, there are issues that result in less materials being recycled than what is possible. The Northwest Territories case study shows such a program works on a large-scale and also, it demonstrates that the recycling can happen here at home. Unlike other northern regions in Canada, NWT’s recycling program used infrastructure in North America to recycle its containers rather than relying in foreign facilities overseas – something which is very common in these areas.
Toronto has done a good job at building facilities here in the city to handle its recycling needs. Even so, our waste still is oftentimes sent to facilities outside the GTA for processing and waste management. For all the positives waste management is responsible for, what the Northwest Territories have done is successfully minimize their environmental footprint while also building facilities, bringing jobs, and generating economic activity in its own home region. Also, NWT has launched a single-use retail bag program, which has kept more than 50 million bags from Canadian landfills since 2011.
Perhaps Toronto can learn a thing or two from how the Northwest Territories have been able to generate these numbers. NWT uses a Calgary-based plastics facility to handle all its plastic materials, breaking the material down and repurposing it into a wide array of different products. Non-reusable glass is sent from NWT to an Airdrie-based facility, which turns them into fibreglass. Aluminum in the Northwest Territories is transported to an American facility. The relationships NWT has built for itself across North America shows the potential regions like the GTA can have in maximizing its recycling operations. If an area as vast in size and as minimal in population as the Northwest Territories can do it, there’s no saying what is possible for other regions across Canada.
Toronto boasts some impressive recycling numbers but it’s still at risk of falling behind regions who are minimizing cross-contamination and who are arguably doing a better job at educating its population on its recycling program. Nevertheless, we salute the Northwest Territories for the great job they’ve done at improving recycling rates and increasing waste diversion to its best level yet.
For more information on waste management and recycling in Toronto, we would love to help. Core Mini Bins has helped hundreds of residential and commercial businesses across Toronto maximize their waste management efforts. Speak with one of our representatives to put your waste management responsibilities in the hands of a company you can trust.

Thursday 4 July 2019

Exploring the Untapped Resources of Waste in Toronto

Waste is not garbage – waste is resources that haven’t been refined yet. It’s time to change the conversation and the why we talk about waste. As a waste management company, we see untapped potential every day across Toronto.

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Exploring the Untapped Resources of Waste in Toronto


The waste output of residential, commercial, and industrial facilities are considered a nuisance by those who put them out. To others though, that waste may be almost as good as gold. If Toronto’s going to change the way it handles waste management, it’s time to see waste for what it really is – that’s, above all else, a resource.
A broken glass jar can easily be recycled into a new glass product. A toaster oven you no longer use can easily be given to another household who really needs it. A doll or child’s toy you’re children no longer play with can be provided to a thrift store for repair and sale. There’s many examples out there of things that are waste to some people and useful to others. If Toronto was serious about changing its future of waste management, an opportunity to do so would be to create recycling hubs wherein citizens could dispose of their waste and where they would be certain said waste would be recycled.
There are already sites and online communities where Torontonians exchange goods for free. Visiting classified ad sites like Kijiji, under the ‘free’ section, you’ll find dozens of people advising others of what they’re putting out to the curb. This is a great way to limit waste in Toronto and more attention paid to hubs like these could help elevate the way we view our waste. The sad thing is visiting any general-purpose waste management facility in Toronto, you’ll find so much amazing stuff being tossed away. Everything from tables to lamps, clothing, toys, food still in packaging, and more is found at different sites across Toronto.
A lot of the reasons why these perfectly good things end up in the trash has to do with time and opportunity. For example, there may not be enough time to find someone or a junk removal service to pick them up, or there may not be an immediate opportunity to repurpose said products. As these things are buried in our landfills, they take up valuable space while contributing to the development of highly potent greenhouse gases which exists in our landfills. There are some estimates suggesting that as much as 70 percent of our waste could be cut down today if we implemented infrastructures to sort, compost, recycle, refund, and/or donate everything we could. That’s a huge number and hopefully, we like to think that as the years go by, more infrastructure will be put into place to maximize the waste we continue to create.
The untapped resources of waste in Toronto suffer from not having the infrastructure in place to make the most of everything we’ve gotten. Consumers can only do so much and a lot of the time, they are severely limited by their environment. For example, composting is not possible in a condo environment. A lot of the time, consumers do not have the means to drive bulky furniture and electronics to a thrift store. In many cases, consumers may not be aware of specific depots or companies accepting hazardous forms of waste and other types. Needless to say, there’s a lot more to do in the battle for a zero waste future in Toronto!

Tuesday 2 July 2019

Are We Doing Enough to get Ontario Manufacturers to Reduce waste

Canadian manufacturers inevitably produce a large amount of waste and in Ontario, with the sizeable number of manufacturers we have here in the province, this makes a sizeable dent in our environmental record.
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Are We Doing Enough to get Ontario Manufacturers to Reduce waste


The difficulty with something like manufacturing is that it’s not a sector of waste production that can be minimized by making a different choice. No matter the product, manufacturing facilities are always going to produce waste to some degree. Thereby, the challenge becomes how to reduce waste in these environments without affecting efficiency of production. This is an unpopular conversation to have, with no clear answer.
Let’s take a few steps back for a minute. We can all acknowledge waste management services in Ontario is an essential and it’s not perfect. There is room for improvement with how we collect, process, and dispose of waste. Increasing efficiencies in waste management hinges on waste reduction at times. Though manufacturing facilities can implement policies and our provincial government can build in incentives, a lot of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of management. If one is going to reduce waste in manufacturing, it begins by examining the products we’re manufacturing and considering whether a more eco-friendly option is available.
In Ontario, manufacturing management executives should examine how wasteful their production is and determine if replacing certain products could result in environmental or financial savings. In some cases, they may be surprised to find that there’s money to save in switching to less wasteful products. For example, some provinces have enacted ERP programs, or extended producer responsibility. This makes manufacturers responsible for paying for the waste generated. There’s incentive there to consider changes in products related to things like packaging, paper, tries, electronics, batteries, and more.
There are a lot of provinces and manufacturers doing some great work at limiting manufacturing waste. Ontario government-run recycling programs are growing and the cost-effectiveness of recycling has been on the upswing for over a decade. The aforementioned ERP programs in Ontario have produced a lot of good, including reducing costs for municipalities and taxpayers relating to curbside recycling collection. Improving efficiency of waste management in Ontario is a priority because waste processing has a cost. The more waste we generate, the more we have to pay to manage it. That’s the biggest incentive we have as a culture to ensure improvements happen.
As a Toronto waste management company, we know ‘waste’ is not an attractive and exciting topic. It’s one that Ontario needs to take a serious look at though. There are still opportunities out there to improve recycling infrastructure, reduce costs of material processing, and also, saving taxpayers money. The provincial government has a key role to play, as do municipalities like Toronto and manufacturers. Program-based incentives have done a lot and potentially, there could be more. Is Ontario doing enough to get its manufacturers to reduce waste output – it’s hard to say. What we know for certain is there’s still room for improvement.
Core Mini Bins is a top Toronto waste management and recycling company, collecting, processing, and disposing of a wide array of waste products from across the GTA. Whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial, we have served thousands of clients far and wide across Toronto. If you’re in need of affordable, quality waste management, feel encouraged to speak with a representative today.