October 29, 2009
Recycling rate in Alberta now at 81 per cent
EDMONTON — The recycling and return rate for beverage containers has increased to 81 per cent following changes made to the Alberta system in the past year, the province says.
Alberta Environment wants to see that increase to 85 per cent by November 2011, said Trevor Gemmell, a department spokesman.
"If we're going to reach that goal, we need milk-container recycling rates to increase, which is why we introduced a deposit on those containers."
In June, the provincial government added milk containers to the list of items with refundable deposits.
Deposits on other beverage containers were increased in November 2008 to 10 cents for all containers one litre and under, and 25 cents for all containers over one litre.
These changes made it easier for people to understand how everything was added up, said John Bachinski, managing director of the Beverage Container Management Board.
It also made service at bottle depots faster, he said.
One negative repercussion has hit a charitable organization that provides lunches to inner-city schoolchildren.
The Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation has seen its costs rise because the non-refundable environmental fee on the containers also rose.
One more change is coming. In June, special markings were added to milk containers so bottle depots could ensure the containers were purchased in Alberta after June 1 and a deposit was paid.
The dairy industry will stop placing the special red ink marking on containers as of Nov. 1.
Here are some figures that reflect changes in the system:
-Five per cent: the increase in the overall recycling rate of beverage containers in the 12 months since August 2008.
-43 per cent:the return rate for milk cartons in September 2009.
-22.5 per cent: the return rate for milk cartons in 2008.
-63 per cent:the return rate for plastic milk jugs in September 2009.
-60 per cent:the return rate for plastic milk jugs in 2008.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Recycling+rate+Alberta+cent/2155102/story.html
