Since recycling has been introduced to Thompson, millions of kilograms of material has been diverted from the Thompson landfill.

 

However, there were challenges of garbage and other contaminants finding their way into recycling bins, sometimes causing full truckloads to have to be sent to the landfill.

 

Recent bylaw enforcement has changed that as Billie-Jo Thompson, manager of the Recycling Center shares here.

 

“With the city now enforcing bylaws on the residential recycling bins we have seen a significant decrease in the amount of contaminants coming down the line, which has made it much more manageable for the employees. We have time to do other things. It’s been about three weeks. The positives have been just wonderful.”

 

If you’re caught placing waste in your recycling cart or at the recycling depot, it will cost you $168 for your first offense. A second offense will be doubled to $336.

 

Thompson also spoke about how recycling in the city has transformed since it was first introduced. From trailers being hauled by trucks and materials being sorted as they were picked up curbside, Thompson’s present-day operation is streamlined, efficient and safer.

 

And, in the past year, more welcome changes have taken place. Thompson tells us about those.

 

“The City of Thompson now operates a one-stop drop at the landfill, which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays during the summer months, so it’s accessible all year around. There’s a used oil depot out there that will collect used oil , filters, containers as well as anti-freeze. And there’s a hazardous waste depot for paint, aerosols, paint thinners, varnish, old fuel, fluorescent light bulbs, etc, as well as an e-waste depot for all your electronics.”

 

Thompson says these changes have helped divert even more items from the weekly household pickups.

 

Listen to the interview at thompsononline.ca. Go to the Home tab, click on Audio, then Home, then Thompson Today.