Seeking Better Waste Management with Compostable Containers is a Learning Curve
When the average Canadian handles a food container that looks and feels like plastic, we’ve been instructed this isn’t recycling and it should be placed in the garbage. Surprisingly so, there are many packaging and plastic containers being provided out there that are in fact recyclable. The fact that they are near identical to their non-recyclable counterparts however means compostable containers are being accidentally tossed out with the trash.
Recently, the CBC published an article highlighting the increase in compostable packaging in Prince Edward Island. In this province, all restaurants have been legislated to switch to compostable packaging. This has created a challenge though for sorters at their waste management corporation. Simply put, they cannot tell which containers are compostable and which are not. Subsequently, not all Islanders are educated on how to identify containers that are and aren’t. Though initially promising, needless to say, this new system of compostable plastics is not helpful to anyone.
How a region like Toronto can learn from this is in various ways. Plant-based plastics are an amazing idea and the fact that a province like PEI can implement them to the highest degree indicates a real possibility for them. They need to be made to look different from their plastic counterparts though. This might include a different physical design, a tag on it indicating it is compostable, or something else. Subsequently, Torontonians would need to become educated on which items are plastic and which are recyclable. This whole education process, as we’ve seen, can take years to get right. For this reason, it’s never too early to start.
If one were to implement a new compostable recyclable materials, cross-contamination is still a concern. Compostables could end up in the garbage and vice versa. The response in PEI has been to color-code the recyclable containers though this has not yet happened. The fact that PEI is leading the way on these developments though is a sure sign we could be doing more here in the GTA. We know the technology is available, the market has been proven, and the implementation of compostable plastics in other areas have shown that they work. For what’s been done in PEI, it’s time to do the same in Toronto.
For the first time in human history, these kinds of plastics can be recycled. Cutlery, plates, food packaging, and so much more can be recycled. There’s no need to throw any of that in our landfills. Compostable plastics are more expensive which may be a possible barrier to implementation in the GTA. That said, it’s a promising start to potentially show a way forward on how to maximize the environmental sustainability of so many of our businesses.
As a top Toronto waste management and recycling company, we are confident is saying better waste management is just around the corner. It’s going to take city-wide initiatives like compostable containers and infrastructure in place to ensure that recycling can be maximized. We are extremely excited for the future of Toronto and we hope to play a fundamental role in continuing to drive down waste percentages GTA-wide.
If you are a small business, corporate office, or residential property looking to minimize their environmental footprint, we would love to speak with you. Contact Core Mini Bins today to talk with a representative on how to best maximize your waste management today!
https://www.garbagebinrentals.ca/contact-excavation-demolition-disposal-specialist.html
