Local municipal politicians and staff are keen on an initiative designed to extend the life of the landfill but have struggled with how that message should be presented to the citizens.
North Bay City Council debated the issue at Tuesday’s regular meeting. An amendment to drop the second of two recommendations originating from the infrastructure and operations committee left councillors in favour of one or both of the measures.
Councillor Chris Mayne, who chairs that committee, said the debate on the issue surprised him. “Overall, of all the recycling and waste that the City handles, 2,000 tonnes per year is a very small amount but it’s still considered best practice in a number of other communities, so we’re just trying to emulate that ourselves.”
There was agreement around the table for the implementation of an education campaign focused on raising awareness about options for the reduction, reuse and recycling of textiles.
The amendment to drop the banning of the collection and disposal of textiles in the general waste stream did not receive enough support and Council passed both of the recommendations.
Deputy Mayor Tanya Vrebosch, who tabled the amendment to drop the ban from consideration, said her reservations stemmed from her experiences with illegal dumping as an employee in the non-profit sector.
“I’m a little bit concerned, I know the types of things that just get dropped off, sometimes without your knowledge. Whether they’re broken or dirty or missing pieces, people think ‘I can’t put it in [the trash] so I’m going to just drop it off and dump it there,” said Vrebosch.
At the committee level, possible options on how to address wasteful textile disposal also included the blue box collection of textiles and placing collection bins from organizations wishing to receive donations of textiles on municipal properties but were discounted in favour of the education and textile ban components of the by-law.
Concerns about the refusal of end-of-life textiles sent to the landfill from the industrial sector down to households were put to rest by City staff. Any stained or greasy textile with no other use would be accepted at the landfill.
Said Mayne, “If you have clothing or fabric goods that may have further use or value to a thrift or recycling store, please deliver it to them. Some of them will come and pick it up from you.”
Vrebosch again voiced her concerns for the organizations handling increased donations of goods. “They can receive a landfill tipping fee waiver. However, that doesn’t usually cover the cost of the gas or having to sort through [more] things. Councillor King had mentioned some of his concerns about things on the industrial side.”
“For some of the businesses that are nervous about throwing out greasy clothing and things like that. Not a problem, we don’t intend to give everyone a hard time,” clarified Mayne. “If it’s end-of-use textiles, used work overalls or dish rags that are covered in grease or oil, by all means, throw them in the landfill and the City isn’t going to fine or police that.”
