PITCH-IN CANADA
Resource Centre

Action Projects to Improve the Environment
Recycling
for french information on recycling click here

Recycling can help reduce the one ton of garbage each Canadian produces each year.

Even if your community does not operate a recycling program (blue bag/box or otherwise), you can still participate and become part of the solution to our garbage problem.

Get the Facts

• Making people aware of how they can recycle is half the battle. As a first step, find out what is and is not being recycled in your community. If some materials are not being recycled find out why not. You will need to explain this as part of your education program.

  To find out what is happening in your community and your province to recycle waste, contact the following, as appropriate, to get the facts:

  • local government, usually the public works department
  • local waste disposal contractor(s)
  • scrap companies
  • auto recyclers
  • provincial ministry of the environment
  • local environmental organizations

• Ask the following questions as appropriate:
  
  + what can be recycled within our community; what do you recycle; in what form/condition do you accept materials; how are they to be delivered to you, when, where
  
  + does your agency sponsor a recycling "hotline"; a council or association of recycling industries; do you know of such an organization; where can it be contacted; what information is available from this agency
  
  and
  
  + will we be remunerated for any recyclable materials (not that this should matter, but some materials, such as aluminum, are in high demand and could provide your organization with some monetary return. Remember, your financial return may depend on how far your community is removed from recycling markets.

Mount an Education Program

This can take many forms: displays, posters, classroom activities, etc... It is important to point out that recycling can be supported not only by reusing/recycling the waste each individual produces but also by purchasing wisely, favouring products whose packages are made from post-consumer waste, which have the least packaging, which can be more easily recycled in your community.

Here are some other specific messages you may want to promote:

• Take Action - Individually
  • For information about what individuals can do click here.

  Take Action - Corporately

  • For information about what businesses can do click here.

  Take Action - in support of Others

  • Collect books and magazines. Donate them to hospitals, senior citizens' residences or other organizations/institutions.
  • Contact your local daycare centre(s) and elementary schools and find out what items they can use for school projects. Paper (used on one side or ?) and other items are appreciated, especially as everyone faces tighter budgets!

  Take Action - in the Community

  • Incorporate Recycling as a theme in your community's PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK. Arrange to pick up unwanted items in good condition which can be reused by others. These could be advertised for sale, or for exchange, or sold at rummage/garage sales.
  • Organize a paper, bottle, or can recycling program. Make sure you research where these items can be taken before you start! Use special PITCH-IN CANADA collection bags.
  • Separate the litter you collect during your PITCH-IN CANADA WEEK clean up into recyclable and non-recyclable material. Recycle what you can. Even if the material cannot be recycled locally, it will help educate participants about the value of much of what is often thrown away!
  • Organize a "Reuse Weekend". With the assistance of your local government, encourage residents to place unwanted items at "the curb" during the weekend during PITCH-IN WEEK or at another time. One person's "junk" is another person's "treasure"! Have the municipality pick up anything left for disposal.

For information on how to become a supporter click here.

To return to the Action Projects to Improve the Environment menu click here.