Comment

It is good news that Simcoe County is going to implement the collection of compostables.

Municipalities like Adjala-Tosorontio have recycling rates about double those of other Simcoe County municipalities based largely on composting.

The implementation of compostable collection should take us all to a recycling level of about 50%.

This is a long way from the 25% level that many of us exist at right now.

Many of us already compost, but a municipal system can also compost things that a household composter can't like meat, bones, tissues, paper towel, vacuum bags, and hair/fur.

After you compost what you can, you find that about the only thing left for the garbage collection is plastic.

Plastics while they can be bulky are very light. You now have garbage bags that can easily be handled by two fingers.

There are some problems yet. Diapers appear not to be on the list of items to be recycled or composted and need to be.

Adjala-Tosorontio seems to get around this by allowing diapers and incontinence products in a clear plastic bag which can be easily identified and are permitted in the waste stream or the recycling stream if there is a program.

Those places like Markham which have a 68% recycling rate handle diapers.

One bag will not be an issue with most people and shouldn't be with cottagers, many of whom are only in residence on weekends. Sometimes cottagers are the most environmentally aware people we have.

Education is the key, We are running out of landfill space. No one wants more landfills (at least not near them) and no one wants incineration either. That leaves recycling as the key to all waste reduction.

We need to have as many waste streams as possible and we certainly need to have at least all the major streams local.

It really makes no sense to sense to put trucks on the road (spewing out fumes and creating traffic problems) shipping the compostables all the way to Hamilton.

Another key for all waste is to have recycling depots or transfer stations where one can take other items where they be metals for recycling or bulky items.

Urban areas can have even higher levels of service. Markham offers its residents a collection of yard waste for composting every other week.

There is lots to be done and we shouldn't be seen as some rural backwater.