Recycling up in Simcoe County
Recycling increased County wide by 7.6%
by Richard Blanchard

Changes to Simcoe County's waste pickup program last year which saw a limit of two bags per week placed on all households and weekly recycling pickup has meant a big increase in recycling.

Corporate Services committee members received an comparison of recycling and waste rates between 2005 and 2006.

Rob McCullough, Environmental Services Manager, reported that recycling increased county wide by 7.6% in 2006.

The most marked increase were seen in those municipalities which moved to weekly recycling pickup.

In Innisfil, the tonnage of recyclables rose by four percent between 2005 and 2006 while in New Tecumseth, where weekly recycling was introduced last year, rose by 12%.

McCullough added that "This is encouraging as it appears residents are continuing to increase their diversion efforts through the blue box program, with waste going to landfill reflecting a minimal increase of 0.86% County-wide."