Archive for July, 2008:
Recycle Renovations Wood Waste
The new deck is up, the fence panel is replaced, but what to do with all the rotten wood that is laden with nails? Then there are all those end cuts from plywood and 2×4’s that over the years has accumulated and is taking up more space in your home than you can stand anymore. So what to do with all this “construction” wood waste?
Recycle it! Or, if it’s still has some potential to be used again, re-use it.
Any wood item that has been painted, screwed, nailed and/or glued can be recycled. In reference to recycling construction wood waste, the material is collected, shredded and used as a fuel source to produce energy.
If you have taken the time to remove nails and glued on paper and essentially cleaned the wood, then there is a possibility that it could be re-used. Habitat for Humanity operates the Re-Store located on the corner of Mostar and Boban. The Re-Store accommodates second hand building materials and supplies for those that are looking for a good deal on their next project. It may be a good idea to contact the Re-store to confirm that they will take your used materials, 250-758-8743.
When the wood is beyond practical use, the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange (NRE) is able to accommodate your recycling needs. There is a cost associated for disposal and staff will assist you in offloading your material. The NRE is located at 2477 Kenworth Road and may be contacted at 250-758-7777.
A big convenience factor with the NRE is the extended hours of operation. The NRE is able to assist the community in its recycling endeavours by being open 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm. Easy way to remember the hours of operation is “7 to 7, 7 days a week”.
Recycle Tires
When it comes to tires, there really is a “closed loop”-recycling recycling program. This means that 100% of an old tire is dealt with and not land filled. In 2007, the new Tire Stewardship program in BC recorded 80% of all tires collected where turned into crumb rubber. The remainder was used as a fuel source in the new generation waste-to-energy plants.
To put this into perspectives that we can appreciate, approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of tires where recycled in 2007, that is about one tire per person in BC.
How the stewardship program works is like this; we buy a tire, and the retailer collects an Advanced Disposal Fee or Eco-Fee. This money goes to the not-for-profit Tire Stewardship BC Association. The moneys are then dispersed among collectors, haulers and processors that work in synergy to recycle that old tire into a new reusable product.
Last year, 3,100,000 passenger and light truck tires where purchased in BC. Of that, 2,600,000 entered the program and became crumb rubber. The remaining 500,000 tires usually end up going home with the consumer to be used at some later date.
If you are purchasing new tires, ask the retailer about taking the old ones for you. If you have some old tires at your home, take them to a depot or a retailer that will accept the tires. Make sure you call in advance to ensure that the used tires are accepted even though you are not buying a new set. The Nanaimo Recycling Exchange (NRE) located on Kenworth Road will take tires, with or without a rim. Staff will ask for a $1 donation per tire if the tire has a rim attached still.
Crumb rubber? It’s cool product that is becoming increasingly popular in its applications. Running tracks, new paver bricks, playgrounds and even the new Nanaimo artificial turf uses crumb rubber as its lubricant (so you don’t get a rug burn). To promote tire recycling advancements, extra monies collected by the Stewardship Program go towards the development of new technologies for reusing old tires. So keep your eyes open to new products that come from that old tire.
Gasoline Disposal - How to be Responsible
With the soaring gasoline prices, it almost seems ridiculous to write an article about recycling gasoline. However, it is inevitable that on occasion we have some gas from the boat, lawn mower, motorcycle or some other gasoline driven motor that has become contaminated or is too old to use.
How do you get rid of this flammable liquid waste? The NRE provides a drop-off program for waste gasoline through the consumer stewardship program Product Care.
The program is free for residences to use. However, to ensure safety, there is one important guideline that must be followed to permit participation. All gasoline must be brought to the Depot in a ULC approved container. Essentially, a gas can, jerry can, or portable fuel tank, all labeled with the symbol “ULC”. The max container size permitted is 25L.
An important item to remember; the NRE will keep your gas can. This may be a little alarming to some. However, to offset the cost of your gas can, the program does provide $6.00 cash back to the owner of the container.
If parting with the gas container is too much, the NRE Market or some other thrift store can provide a low-cost replacement container that can be used to drop-off at the Depot.
Do your best to only purchase the amount of fuel you will need for the job or the season. Talk to your authorized dealer about tips on extending the life expectancy of your gasoline for that particular motor.