March 3, 2009
Sarcan continues to accept recyclable items
Confusion has taken over for eco-friendly residents who have taken the opportunity to do business with the local SARCAN recycle depot on the outskirts of Kipling. SARCAN has managed to collect, donate and pay out to the many residents, companies and fundraisers that take part in the recycling program, a program that has not changed habit since the elimination of a number of recycle bins off of the 605 grid road.
Since the bins for plastic and tin have been removed from the site, many residents have experienced a slight confusion of what can and will be accepted at SARCAN (Kipling Industries). “We have been getting a lot of calls from people who are confused about recycling. At least two to three a day,” said Joanne Weir, Executive Director of Kipling Industries. “We haven’t changed - Red Coat has!”
SARCAN and Red Coat Waste Authority are two completely different companies that share a unique and similar bond, a bond to reduce, re-use and recycle. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding and misuse of the bins (dead animals and used diapers to name a few), Red Coat Waste Authority was unable to continue the use of the bins, removing them from various sites across Saskatchewan.
However, SARCAN has continued to provide their services, which have not changed. The employees at SARCAN are still accepting tin, plastic and clear glass bottles and jugs.
‘Tin’ is considered acceptable only if it is a Tomato Juice and Pineapple Juice can and nothing more. Soup, vegetable and other cans that once contained an edible product will not be accepted at SARCAN, these items are garbage.
‘Plastic’ does not include plastic from boxed items, ‘Milk to Go’, or other plastic containers like mayonnaise, these are considered garbage as well. However, SARCAN is and will continue to accept plastic drink bottles like pop, juice and water bottles for rebate.
‘Glass’ includes only clear alcoholic beverage bottles like wine, beer and liquor bottles. Cheez Whiz, jam and other various glass-jarred items that can be consumed are not included and are considered garbage. Tetras, better known as juice boxes, have continued to be acceptable. These items usually contain juices (refundable) or broth consumes (non-refundable).
“Everything that’s been brought in to us as payables are still payables,” stated Kathy Savage of Kipling Industries.
Milk jugs, plastic and cartons a-like, will still be accepted and will continue to be non-refundable. The milk jugs that are brought in will be sent off to Regina as a donation to Tele-Miracle in support of their continuous and charitable events. However, Soya milk and rice milk containers are refundable. “If it contains milk, we don’t pay for it,” said Rick Martens, employee of SARCAN.
The rule of thumb, for the most part, is ‘anything that you drink and put a deposit on - SARCAN probably accepts it’.
There are other opportunities to recycle some non-beverage items that are accepted at SARCAN such as ‘white-frosted vinegar bottles with the recycle number 2 located on the bottom of the bottle. Paint cans (full or empty), and electronics like desktop computers, desktop fax machines, laptops, computer monitors, computer printers, scanners and televisions are also accepted as donations for a proper disposal of these electronically items.
All other items are non-recyclable and are most-likely better for the garbage. The SARCAN and Kipling Industries employees have been receiving bags of garbage that has been left for their disposal. “Sometimes things just show up at our door,” said Weir, “we don’t want your garbage!”
Be kind and respect that this is a job to many of the citizens in our communities and safety is a factor in why preventative measures are taken when accepting items. By simply removing the caps from the bottles, you will not only save the time for the employee, but you will also decrease the chances of wrist injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Broken, dirty and rusty bottles and cans will and can be refused for reasons that the employees may get hurt and the recyclables should be rinsed out. By rinsing the containers, you are saving the time and making an effort to allow people to work in a cleaner environment. Sour milk and rotten juice can be a very dangerous and sickening smell for those who have to handle them. Finally, by simply doing the ’swish and squish’ (rinsing and crumbling down container), we are personally helping the product get recycled, reduced and re-used.
http://www.kiplingcitizen.com/home/2009/03/03/sarcan-continues-to-accept-recyclable-items/
