The Thompson Recycling Centre has continued to improve over the years.   Billy Jo Thompson, manager of the centre, shares some facts and figures from last year.

“In 2016 for total, we had processed approximately 960,000 kilograms.  We’re  up this year about 20-thousand kilograms .  So that’s great.  Every year we’re just looking ot increase our numbers and that’s what we’ve been doing thanks to the community residents and the community recycling.”

Thompson says the automated sorting system has played a big part in contributing to these numbers.   Almost 19-thousand kilograms of recyclable material is shipped from Thompson weekly.   Some material actually generates money for the Recycling Centre as it’s considered a commodity.   

Thompson shares more on how those shipments are funded.

“We’re funded through the Multi-Material Stewardship of Manitoba. So they would help us with those shipping costs to cover the shipping all the way from Northern Manitoba down to Winnipeg.  Without that funding it would be very expensive.   Also, we ship on back loads.  Gardewine’s been wonderful and gives us a reduced price to ship our recycling.”  

However, while every year the amount of recyclable material diverted from the landfill increases, there is room for improvement.

“We’re always looking at bringing our contamination levels down.   Just educating the public, making them more aware of what’s recyclable and what’s not.  We experience a lot of textiles - like clothing or bedding - in our recycling.  It adds a lot to our contamination rates.   People may think they’re putting it in the recycling bin because they’re donating it, but we don’t recycle clothing or any type of textiles, so it’s all going to the landfill.”

Check the bottom of any item you think is recyclable to see if the recycle symbol is on it.  If you’re still not sure, contact the Centre at 677-7991.  Get more information about the Recycling Centre by tuning in to Thompson Today at 12:40 and 5:10 this afternoon.