At the latest Town Council meeting, Loraas Environmental announced upcoming changes to the materials they will accept in their recycling project.
Before the meeting, Ruebecca Fiddler, Branch Manager from Loraas Environmental, wrote the Town a letter to explain that recent recycling changes in China have forced Loraas to stop accepting post-consumer plastics such as plastic bags, food wrap, and cellophane packaging in their recycling program.
“Post-Consumer plastic film was always a difficult commodity to find a mill for, and often was marketed at a net loss,” Fiddler stated. “After months of stockpiling this material while we tried extensively to find another market for it we have come to the realization that we will have no choice but to start sending the plastic film we process to the landfill.”
Fiddler followed her letter with an in-person visit at the March 12 Town Council meeting. Both Mayor Rod Perkins and Chief Administrative Officer Bernie Morton received the news with some concern. Mayor Perkins noted that the larger number of plastics in the landfill could result in items like plastic bags blowing into farmer’s fields, causing an unsightly mess. Mayor Perkins and CAO Morton also inquired if other markets were able to take the plastics, Fiddler replied that she had nothing to report at this time.
According to Fiddler, about 85-90% of the mixed paper received by Loraas would not have a market if post-consumer plastics (plastic bags, food wrap, and cellophane packaging) will continue to be dumped in with the paper recycling. This is because the plastics will make a film that often sticks to paper products and so compromise the sale of that material.
“In order to ensure we can successfully recycle mixed paper and maintain viability of the recycling program, we are requesting that all municipalities/ customers eliminate the post-consumer plastic film from the resident curbside recycling program immediately.”
The Town of Kindersley is complying with Loraas’ request and is asking all Kindersley residents to be mindful of the items they are recycling and avoid placing plastic bags, food wrap, and other cellophane packaging into their recycling bins.
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