City reminds residents: Recycle aluminum and paper

The City of Kingston is calling on residents to recycle more. They’ve released a statement today saying they would like to see more aluminum being recycled in the Blue Box , and more mixed paper in the Grey Box.

“When you put an aluminum can or an envelope into the garbage instead of a recycling box, you waste its potential to be made into something else,” said Brandi Timpson, Acting Director, Solid Waste Services. “You also literally throw away money, as these items have value on the recycling market. Please help us capture more of these items and keep them out of landfill where they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.”

The City is now running a campaign to encourage more Blue and Grey Box recycling of the items below.

Aluminum foil, cans and trays

Aluminum foil, cans and trays go in the Blue Box. Aluminum can be repeatedly recycled, again and again. According to the City, waste audits show that 43 per cent of Kingston’s aluminum items end up in landfill. That’s the equivalent of 13.4 million pop-cans in wasted aluminum, approximately $275,000 on the recycling market.

Putting these items in the Blue Box would also save 129.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), according to the City, equal to taking 28 cars off the road each year.

Mixed Paper

Mixed paper goes in the Grey Box. Office paper, envelopes, paperback booklets and other mixed paper can be recycled, just like newspaper. The City says 45 per cent of these items end up in landfill.

That’s the equivalent of 11,775 trees worth of wasted paper. The City also notes that putting these items in the Grey Box would save 125.5 Tonnes of GHGs – equal to taking 27 cars off the road each year, earn the City $8,400 and save the City $42,000 in disposal fees.