Plastic bale wrap becoming more tough to toss

Simcoe County is finding it increasingly difficult to dispose of some plastic items due to lack of markets.

Members of the county's corporate services committee learned last week that polystyrene/styrofoam products and plastic clamshells are very difficult to find buyers for recycling.

The county environmental services department recommended that the items not be collected in the blue box program.

In a related issue, county councillors were told that the only available recycler of waste bale wrap would not sign a contract with the township unless if was for a minimum of 10 years.

Corporate services voted last month to see if the contract could be signed for a period of five years or less.

"I'd hate to see this program end," said New Tecumseth mayor Mike McEachern.

Adjala-Tosorontio mayor Tom Walsh, also a strong proponent of the program, wondered if the county might store the material until additional markets opened for the wrap.

Clearview mayor Ken Ferguson said if the program were promoted to the county's farmers much more of the bale wrap could be diverted from county landfills or burning.

But he had problems with signing a contract for 10 years with the current recycler.

"I see the market evolving over time and allowing us more options to recycle the material," he said.

The committee eventually decided to send the matter back to a sub-committee which looks at environmental issues.

The county recycled between seven and nine tons of the wrap least year.