October 21, 2010

Winnipeg mayor proposes recycling redemption depots

Sam Katz, the mayor of Winnipeg, Ontario, recently announced a new initiative that would create five recycling depots around the city, offering a two-cent ($CN) refund on each beverage container brought in. The move would supplement the city's curbside pick-up of recyclables, giving residents a financial incentive to recycle the beverage containers. Winnipeg residents already pay a two-cent fee when purchasing beverage containers.

The city will launch a one-year, $85,000 pilot project in concert with Versatech Industries Inc., a nonprofit that provides employment the mentally disabled. Under the mayor's plan, the city would contract with Versatech to staff five depots open three days a week across Winnipeg where people could redeem the two cents on every aluminum can, plastic beverage container and glass container turned in. The proposal is largely meant to boost what the mayor says is a too-low recycling rate for beverage containers, currently at 40 percent.

Any profits off the sales of finished recycled products generated through the program will be used to offset its costs. British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan already have similar programs in place.

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