te

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

LYNN CANYON Ecclogy Centre naturalist Kevin Bell and his
staff fead nature expeditions, tree-piantings and clean-ups in
several areas, not just in Lynn Canyon. The ecology centre is
hosting a number of Environment Week events, including a
Saturday, June 8 clean-up of Maplewood Flats. See details of
activities in thelr advertisement an page 38.

Sunday, June 2, 1991 - North Sitore News - 39

Mixed paper recycling
will soon be possible

From page 38

Jem, North Shore Recycling
Coordinator Ai Lynch is not cer-
tain it’s the right answer.

“The NSRP is going te wait at
least until the plant is fully opera-
donal and firmly established,’ he
said. “The worst thing we could
do is start to collect all types of
plastics and have the market
dissipate in six months.”’

Lynch believes that one of
Superwood’s selling features — its
durability — may in fact work
against it.

“If it lasts forever and the park
benches and so on rarely need
replacing, what do you do with
the rest of the Superwood being
produced?”’ he asked.

“In the long run, there is a very
fimited market for it.’’

But Cochran says that demand
will build as governments, institu-
tions and athers become aware of
the product and its benefits.

Gn average, Superwood pro-
ducts cost 50% more than regular
lumber, but Cochran says the
higher price is outweighed by
lower replacement costs and the
environmental benefits.

The Superwood company will
pay $60/tonne for collected mixed
plastics —- approximately three
cents per pound.

While Cochran estimates the
price is about seven cents per
pound less than the North Shore
receives for the milk jug and pop
bottle plastics currently collected,
he says that in other areas it has
been found that overall public
support for municipal Blue Box

ne issue, more than any other,

That tssue 1s the environment.

A partner in Responsible Care

* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company

DOW CHEMICAL CANADA INC.
WEST COAST DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

will affect

Dow’s prospects —
in the °90s

and beyond.

programs increased when mixed
plastics have been added to curb-
side collection.

Stil, the public might want to
be able to recycle mixed plastics in
their Blue Boxes, but Lynch warns
that it will add more to their tax
bill.

The $60/tonne payment
wouldn't cover collection and
shipping costs, he says, and the
shortfall would have to come out
of the municipal budgets.

Lynch is not discounting the
idea of mixed plastics recycling on
the North Shore — in fact, some
test drop-off depots may be estab-
lished locally once the Superwood
plant is operating — but he
believes starting mixed paper
recycling is a greater priority.

While plastics make up approx-
imately 15% of the waste stream,
mixed paper and corrugated card-
board make up approximately
30%.

While adding any other material
to the North Shore collection pro-
gram would require a major
restructuring of the municipal
contract with International Paper
Industries Ltd., the company con-
tracted to coliect and market the
recyclables, and a reconfiguration
of how the materials are separated
into the partitioned IPI trucks,
Lynch is planning to implement
mixed paper recycling, either in
the Blue Boxes or at drop-off
depots, as soon as it can be ar-
ranged.

Both Lynch and Superwood’s
Cochran agree on at least one
point: the importance of reducing
and reusing plastics before recycl-
ing then.

“*'d love it if people were using
a much higher propostion of re-
usable glass,”’ said Cochran. ‘‘But
if we are going to be using some
plastic, | want to be recycling it."*

NORTH SHORE
CREDIT UNION

As a responsible community citizen dedicated to act
in an ethical, fair and co-operative manner, it is
our social responsibility to become more invelved
as “Partners in your Community.”

And as a member of Norih Shore Credit Union you are a part
of this involvement. Our latest project: providing financial
support for the production of the Blue Boxes for The North
Shore Curbside and Multi-Family Recycling Program. Now
with your support we can ensure our future by reducing the

ever-increasing volume of solid waste.

If you're not already one of North Shore Credit Union's
39,000 members, talk 10 a financial services representative at
any of cur nine jocations. Not only will you benefit from our

complete range of products and services you can also take
pride in being a part of community initiatives like Curbside
Recycling.

Together we can make a difference!