Jackie Brown of Quinte Waste Solutions shows new apartment recycling equipment, March 31, 2016. (Photo: Quinte Waste Solutions)
Recycling at local apartment buildings should soon see some improvements.
Quinte Waste Solutions has received 50% funding, up to an upset limit of $15,000 from the Continuous Improvement Fund to improve the sorting of recycling materials at high-rise apartment complexes in the Quinte region.
Spokesperson Jackie Brown says there are many barriers to recycling properly in apartment buildings, since there are garbage chutes on every floor, outside depots, and limited indoor space to keep recyclables are the biggest hurdles, but the main issue is incorrect sorting.
Brown says “The lack of sorting is getting worse, which causes big problems at the recycling plant in Trenton.”
QWS has chosen four buildings in Belleville to test some techniques including space-saving apartment recycling bags to all apartments in each test building.
The bags are divided in two, for paper products or plastic and metal products.
The agency also switched lids on paper designated carts from blue to grey to further help residents differentiate where to put plastic and metal containers, and where to put paper.
