Recycling Skills
So we all know about mixed recycling… the magic Blue Bins that take our metals, plastics, glass and paper products to a happier place where they are eventually given new life. Calgary has a city-wide program supporting mixed recycling which makes it easy for each household to join in the fun. Condominiums and Commercial buildings are mandated to have similar programs, significantly increasing the popularity of mixed recycling. A mixed recycling program is a great way to divert waste from the landfills, but some of you may be wondering if there is more that can be done. Some of you have been in the recycling game for a long time and are now very skilled at rinsing your plastics, removing bottle lids, and organizing everything into segregated compartments. You have gained enough XP (“experience points”… for the old people reading this) to become proficient with mixed recycling, and are ready to take the next step toward becoming an all around recycling expert. Introducing the “Other” recycling!! ..or more commonly called “organics” recycling.
What Are Organics?
Organic waste can be anything that is derived from living material. This includes both plant and animal byproducts, which covers all of the following:
- Any food item, cooked, raw, or waste
- Yard waste like leaves and grass
- Pet waste including fur and kitty litter
- Other products like Popsicle sticks, cotton balls, Kleenex, etc…
This short list doesn’t sound like much, but it makes up over half of household waste. Can you imagine the impact on the landfills if over half of house-hold waste disappeared?!
How does it work?
Organic recycling programs will take all of this and turn it into usable compost material for gardeners or farmers. This involves taking the waste and heaping it up into giant piles that are constantly mixed. Some wood chips and hay are added to increase the nitrogen and carbon levels. Let the mico-organisms feast on it for a few months and bada-bing bada-boom, you have some nutrient rich compost. Imagine how many potatoes Matt Damon could have grown on Mars if he had some some of this (this is a pop-culture reference to the 2015 film “The Martian”).
Organic Recycling in Calgary
The City of Calgary started with a Green Cart pilot program for organic recycling in the communities of Abbeydale, Brentwood, Cougar Ridge, and Southwood. In May, 2017 the City will expand the program to all single family homes. As of November 1, 2017 all commercial buildings and multi-family residential buildings will be required to have an organics recycling program in place. There are plenty of opportunities to save the environment and reduce garbage disposal expenses with a fine-tuned program. Symons Valley Ranch is a great example of a fine-tuned program.
Level Up
So you think you’ve got what it takes? Step it up a notch with organics recycling and become a recycling super-hero.
