The Region of Waterloo is giving away free blue boxes to help residents get ready for garbage collection every second week next March, and make sure all recyclables are diverted from landfill.
Residents participating in the Region of Waterloo’s Blue Box program can pick up a free, large “containers only” blue box on Saturday, September 17, 2016 between 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., while supplies last, in the parking lots of the following locations:
· The Cambridge Centre Mall, 355 Hespeler Road, Cambridge
· The Kitchener Auditorium, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener
· Conestoga Mall, 550 King Street North, Waterloo
One blue box per household. First come, first served. Proof of residency in Waterloo Region (e.g. driver’s license, utility bill) is required.
According to residential waste audits, approximately 14 per cent of residential garbage (by weight) is actually blue box recyclables. Residents can now use a larger 89 litre blue box for “containers only”. Residents are encouraged to continue to use a second smaller blue box for paper products and plastic bags to ensure they do not go over the 23 kilogram weight limit.
With the lower garbage limits and garbage collected every second week starting in March 2017, it is anticipated that more recyclables will be diverted from garbage cans to blue boxes and green bins. “The focus will be on what can be recycled every week,” says Jon Arsenault, Director of Waste Management. “This bigger blue box will make it easier for residents to sort, and provide extra room to recycle more.”
Blue boxes will be given out at no charge; residents are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food for the local food banks.
A supply of green bins will also be available at each location, free of charge, one per household.
Note: Garbage will be picked up every second week, but blue box recyclables and green bins will still be picked up weekly.
For more information about the blue box giveaway, click here.
Feature Photo Credit: Recycling Bin by Pixabay