June 16, 2009
Rinse milk recyclables with cold water: official
There’s a certain etiquette milk carton and jug recyclers must know before they journey to the bottle depot, according to an official at the Beverage Container Marketing Board (BCMB).
Recyclers are asked to rinse their milk containers out prior to coming to the depot but people don’t have to use hot water to do it, BCMB managing director John Bachinski said.
“There’s been testing done and we’re told the cold rinse is the best in that it actually takes away the smell. And it also takes less energy.”
Recyclers should also flatten containers before they take them to the depot, as squishing them means they’ll take up less space.
On June 1 Alberta became the first province in Canada to return deposits for milk containers. This was to encourage more recycling of plastic and cardboard mil containers, Bachinski said.
Milk purchasers have to pay between 10 and 25 cents more for each container depending on the size. The money is refunded when people take them back to the depot. However, a one to four cent container recycling fee that is also tacked onto the price is not refunded. This money goes directly to the BCMB and is used to offset the cost of recycling, said Alberta Milk spokesman Christopher Thrall.
Bachinski said most of the comments he has heard on the new deposit program have been positive but some seniors have concerns.
“Money is very important to them. They’re on a fixed income and they need that deposit back, which means they have to go to a depot. So there are some logistical issues that have to be worked out.”
Bachinski suggested seniors that live in complexes might want to pool their containers together, and then arrange them to be taken in.
“If the volume is enough [some] depots will come and get them.”
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