As recycling stewardship evolves in Canada, so too does the need to measure the success of various programs. Diversion rates and recycling rates are primary key performance indicators (KPIs), but other information can also offer insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a particular program. In the case of packaging waste, which is generally collected by individual municipalities or regional […]
Articles and Publications
Latest Beverage Container Recycling Rate from the US
This month, The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) released its latest set of recycling data which focuses on beverage containers. CRI has been closely monitoring beverage container recycling using the most comprehensive set of return/recycling data on a State by State basis, as well as sales which is carefully sourced by beverage and material type on […]
Building a Recycling Guideline in Ontario
This August, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) posted a Notice of Intent to work on the development of a new guideline, SPE750 — Recycling Process, Audit and Verification Guideline for Ontario. These guidelines will be a warm welcome by those in the waste management industry who for years have been frustrated by insufficient recycling standards and minimal enforcement. As it currently stands, […]
Introducing Recycling Access Rates in Canada
Knowing the percentage of Canadians that have access to recycling programs that accept your product’s packaging is critical. Identifying where and who has access to recycling is invaluable information as brandowners and suppliers consider packaging design and labeling. Corporations and industry groups are working with municipalities and recycling companies to improve the availability of recycling […]
WEEE are Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Every September, I face a new class of third-year Environmental Resource Science students at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. The course title is “Waste Management.” My very first lecture is always the same: it starts with how we measure waste. It may seem simple, but the various measurements used for waste and recycling require careful […]
CM Consulting releases The Canadian WEEE Report 2013
The report clarifies and offers valuable information regarding WEEE management in Canada including the costs of these programs, the methodologies used to measure their performance, and who is ultimately responsible for program operation. Also included is a discussion around industry best practices and the international policies that force producers to design more sustainable, less toxic […]
CM Consulting comments on household battery recycling definition
California’s AB 488 offers an eroded definition of recycling which presents a dangerous slippery slope. Click here for our comments.
Battery Boost – Curbside battery pick-up success in Durham and Niagara
Feb/March 2013 of Solid Waste Management Magazine published a short article about recent battery collection pilots in Durham and Niagara regions. batteries-curbsideSWRMag.pdf
Single Stream vs Dual Stream – Getting the Facts
This article published in Resource Recycling magazine provides the latest information in single stream collection measured against dual stream (or “two-stream”) recycling collection systems. [hr] Nate Silver, in his recent best-seller “The Signal and the Noise – Why so many predictions fail but some don’t,” in describing the cost to society of failed predictions due to […]
Innovation from real EPR
Another great example of how industry managing their own EPR program has achieved gains in efficiency and innovation. The article was written five years ago, but it is still very relevant and a very real example of simplicity and common sense solutions for deposit return in a tiny province.
