Residents will be put to the test beginning next week when it comes to what they are putting in their recycling carts.
It’s all part of the city’s CartSmart Program with the goal of providing feedback on how citizens are recycling and to thank those who are sorting properly between recyclable items and garbage.
CartSmart team members will be going around neighbourhoods on collection days over the next six weeks as part of the pilot program.
Workers will perform quick checks to see what people are putting in their blue carts. After checking through its contents, workers will receive one of three notes on their bin:
- “Good Job” sticker: If items are sorted properly and are appropriate recyclable materials;
- “Oops” tag: If workers find improperly prepared materials or unaccepted items;
- “Hazardous Material” tag: Contains hazardous waste like batteries, chemicals or sharp items.
Last year, research found around 10 per cent of items found in Regina’s recycling bins were not recyclable. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
Pat Wilson, the director of water, waste and environmental services for the city, said the only time a bin won’t be emptied out by crews is if hazardous things are visible in the bin.
She explained how it’s important to educate the public on what they shouldn’t be putting in their recycling bins.
“There’s a lot of bins, a lot of equipment that’s running to separate these things out, and if we have the things the equipment is intended to separate, than it runs smoothly,” said Wilson.
Inspectors will be going out in pairs when they go through carts. They’ll be required to carry proper identification and a device to record data.
Wilson added how they’ll be looking at 2,800 locations in small groups over the six weeks to see what recycling patterns look like and begin evaluating how the city can grow the program.
“We’re actually going through bins and really getting a sense of which kinds of things are generally causing people some challenges so we can target those education programs.”
