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Compost queries - No seafood or gravel allowed |
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While City of Sherbrooke officials claim residents are becoming more and more recycling and compost savvy, there are still things that some don’t know, and it’s hurting recuperation attempts.
“Dried grass is okay (to compost),” said spokeswoman Carole Laforest. “But not the small stones and residue used to get rid of snow and ice throughout the winter.”
All gravel should be brought to an ecocentre.
Laforest said that as residents continue to spend their days outdoors cleaning up the lawn, those who sort and treat compost are seeing more and unacceptable materials in the brown bins.
Seafood is not compostable, according to Odile Goulet, who is the composting department’s residential material section chief.
“Seafood is too hard and too thick and it ca not be put in the brown bins,” said Goulet. “In the composting process it can take up to a year for some materials to break down, but usually it happens within three to four months. Seafood takes longer than a year and ends up being left (as garbage).”
Because the composting project is still new for the city, the restrictions may change in the future.
At the moment Sherbrooke is using a temporary compost platform. Until officials find a permanent location, the city can only accept the bare minimum in compostable materials.
Laforest said that when unacceptable materials make their way into the composting chain, perfectly good compost is contaminated and must be
tossed into the garbage.
A common question making its way to officials is what to do with doggie doo. “Animal excrement and litter is not accepted in Sherbrooke,” said Laforest. “In litter there are often chemical products (for clumping and odor protection) and to ensure quality compost we are not accepting it. The same is true for dog excrement. There could be pathogens, viruses, and there is the question of odor.”
Laforest said Sherbrooke residents are getting better at sorting their stuff.
“The employees who work in the sorting chain have noticed that people are becoming better recyclers,” she said. “But, there are still things that people need to remember.”
Compostable, biodegradable, and regular plastic bags are very different and each needs to be put in its proper place.
“Regular plastic bags can be recycled, but they have to be placed in a ball and all together. When they are loose they can get caught in the sorting machines. If these bags end up in the landfill it takes 5- to 600 years to break down. Biodegradable plastic, which looks like a regular plastic bag, only take 60 years. It’s not as long, but it still takes time. The compostable bags are not recyclable.”
Local SAQ liquor stores use bio-degradable plastic. They break down as quickly as leaves, but are banned from recycling and from composting bins.
“When a compostable bag ends up in the recycling chain it contaminates the whole chain. They are compostable, but the city is not accepting them in the bins for right now. The only bag permitted in the compost is paper. This can be confusing for residents, which is why we are continuing to try and inform the public.”
Hear is a list of items that periodically show up in composting bins that shouldn’t be.
• Dead animals: Bury or contact Récupération Maillé at 819-847-4907
• Wood, and branches longer than 60 centimeters, paint, household cleaners, and sod: take to Ecocentre
• Hay or cedar clippings in large amounts: contact Distilla-Cédres at 819-346-3013, or Récupérateur at 819-875-3027
• Bottle corks: recyclable
• Cardboard ice cream containers, cigars, cigarette butts, hair, wax, Q-tips, chewing gum, wax paper, and diapers: garbage.
Laforest said that when residents are unsure their best bet is to visit a local ecocentre and inform themselves.
“We have been seeing plastic and metal toys in the recycling pick up. Some may think that because they are made of a material that is recyclable that it is acceptable, but it is not. Items like that need to be brought to an ecocentre where they will decide whether to give it to an organization or properly dispose of it.”
Sherbrooke is home to two eco-centres. Ecocentre Michel-Ledoux is located at 1000 Léon-Trépanier, and Ecocentre Rose-Cohen is at 365 Pépin Street. Using the eco-centre service is free with a proof of residency, and there’s a fee of $10 for businesses.
The centers do not accept:
• ammunition and explosives (call the Sureté du Québec)
• carpeting and linoleum (garbage)
• furniture (if reusable a charity, if not the landfill)
• commercial or industrial waste (Onyx Industries 819-822-1820)
• contaminated soil (GSI Environnement 819-829-0101)
• pool covers, vinyl, PVC, and ABS (landfill).
For more information on collection schedules visit www.ville.sherbrooke.qc.ca.
By Jen Young
April 28, 2008 |
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Montreal Canadiens
