Sarah Eaman

As the days get shorter and cooler it comes time to switch over to your warmer clothes and perhaps do a bit of fall cleaning. When getting rid of items that accumulated during the summer months and putting those gardens to bed for the winter, you might think of placing many of those objects in the recycling bin. Here are a few guidelines that can aid in reducing contamination and in turn, help the sorting and recycling centers function better.

Did you know that bubble wrap can be recycled? So can Tetra PakTM, also those plastic & metal membrane medication blister packs. You can also recycle your purchase receipts, tissue paper, COVID-19 rapid test cardboard wrapping and instruction paper, clean newspaper (not wet), aluminum foil (food removed), as well as aluminum and plastic coffee pods and capsules such as NespressoTM and KeurigTM. Some things that cannot be recycled are plastic coat hangers, mirrors, furnace filters and shredded paper. Your brown bin accepts things like pet and animal waste, and unwaxed, used cardboard pizza boxes. You can also compost bamboo chopsticks, cooled ashes (wood or coal), dead leaves, conifer needles, paper towel (free of cleaning products) but not grass; you are directed to your local ecocenter for this.

The ecocenter accepts garden hoses, cabling, wiring & extension cords, tennis rackets, golf, tennis, and baseballs, tarpaulins, fans, wood and logs, inflatable balls and bouncy castles, bike tires, and bike rims (without tire). Items that must only be put in the garbage are those single serving cream containers, fabric softener sheets, pens, markers, lead pencils, tape, and Swiffer sheets. Batteries can be recycled at the town Hall, Home Hardware or Rona and paint at Home Hardware and Rona.

Please consult the Ça va où? app or https://bmvert.ca/ for the various recycling programs and reuse organizations that are available for some of the listed items. The app will also direct you to which eco-center is closest to you.