so what happens after all the recyclables are sorted? Once your
recyclables have been separated into their different categories they become
recycling commodities or feedstock to be used by packaging and product
manufacturers. This is how recycling is part of the manufacturing process.
Instead of cutting down trees to make new boxes you can take an existing item
like that old cracker box and turn it into a new paper product instead. That's
how recycling fits into the supply chain to help get new products made, But how
does it all work? Well let's follow this cracker box.
You put it into your blue bin and it gets picked up and taken to the sorting
facility. The box and the other paper get separated from the other recyclables.
The paper bales then go to a paper mill processor. The paper may get further
sorted to create certain mixes. It is then pumped into reusable paper fibres.
This pulp goes to paper and packaging manufacturers where it gets made into
new products like flyers, paper towel and new cardboard boxes.
Huh, that's so cool. Where does all this stuff get made? Recyclables from
Calgary's blue bin program go to manufacturers and recyclers all over
North America and around the world including right here in Canada.
How do I know the recyclables I put in my blue cart will actually get recycled?
Remember that sorting process from earlier? The City of Calgary works really
closely with the sorting facility to make sure recyclables get turned into
something new. They follow a careful process so that material ends up with
the legitimate manufacturers and recycling processors.
Companies are inspected to make sure they're meeting the highest recycling
standards. That's good to hear. I feel better knowing that the companies are
checked out and we know where everything is going and what's happening to it.
Exactly. We want this material to get recycled just as much as you do Zara.
What else do my recyclables get turned into? Your blue cart recyclables get
turned into a wide variety of products that you and your family probably use at
home, work, school and play every day, like the cracker box. Paper and cardboard get
turned into things like newspaper, delivery boxes, egg cartons, paper towel
and toilet paper. What about my plastic containers and bundled stretchy bags? All
sorts of things. They can be recycled into carpet, fleece jackets, plastic pipes,
plastic lumber for park benches and outdoor patio furniture.
Cool. That's amazing how many different
things our old items can become.
Recycling is just one part of the circular economy that we're moving
towards. What's that? Well, what often happens in a wasteful system
is we take raw materials make them into something new and when we're done
with it we throw it away. In a circular economy we're shifting to a better
system where we keep sharing, reusing, repairing, recycling and more to keep
materials in use for as long as we can to keep circulating them if you will. Oh,
so what does that look like? When we make new things we can think about
redesigning the packaging so there's less of it. That can go for the products
too so they use less material and minimize pollution. That's a smart idea.
We can also rethink what we really need to use and avoid using things we don't
need to. That could mean saying no to a shopping bag when it's offered to you at
the store, or remembering your travel mug so you don't have to use a disposable
coffee cup, or borrowing a tool, toy or book from a friend instead of always
buying a new one. Yeah that's right and we all know about recycling and
composting with our blue and green bins. That's another other way we can make
sure what's old becomes new again. It's neat how nothing gets wasted this way.
While our blue and green carts are helpful to deal with household waste
it's even better to make less waste in the first place the other are select
reduce and reuse are actually even more important. What else can we do? We can
repair broken items and mend our clothing instead of buying new ones. We
can donate usable items so they find a new home. There are so many online
marketplaces to trade or sell your used goods. It can be as easy as shopping for
second-hand clothes and products. Wow! There's so many different things we can
do to help out. You got it! Everyone has a role in the circular
economy. Manufacturers, retailers, governments and
consumers like you and me that buy and use these things. There are so many ways
to participate in the circular economy. Recycling, reducing and reusing all help
to limit your waste but remember the best waste is no waste at all. Learn more
at calgary.ca/BlueCart