Common Questions on Recycled Items at FRSWC

Why does the FRSWC not recycle glass?

• Glass is an inert material. It’s made from silica sand and poses absolutely no threat to groundwater, surface water or soil. It produces no leachate, methane or CO2 emissions when landfilled.

• Glass represents approximately four per cent of the waste stream (paper, plastic and metals make up approximately 50 per cent). Typically, less than half of that amount would be captured through residential recycling programs. This means that a relatively small amount of material would be diverted from the landfill if glass were accepted in residential recycling programs.

• The FRSWC may gain two per cent diversion from glass, but the tonnage of recyclable paper, plastic and metals would decrease because of contamination, meaning the net benefit is very small or possibly non-existent.

• Incorporating glass into recycling programs requires a significant investment. If the net effect on diversion is very small, it is difficult to justify the added cost.

• The FRSWC sorts its recycled materials by hand. Glass would be a safety concern if part of the recycle stream.

Why isn’t there centralized composting at the FRSWC?

• The FRSWC supports backyard composting.

• Backyard composting is environmentally friendly with no CO2 emissions.

• Source reduction eliminates emissions resulting from collection and transportation to landfills through vehicle traffic.

• The quality and consistency at home is much better than we could ever have at the landfill.

Why Won’t FRSWC accept used oil containers for recycling?

• Used oil containers are considered contaminants and are advertised by the FRSWC as being unacceptable items.

• Residual oil in the containers is a regulated hazardous waste and cannot be exported. Residents are encouraged to use the FRSWC’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) on-site depot or visit one of the region-wide remote HHW programs offered.

• There is no charge service to dispose of HHW. Please view www.frswc.ca for HHW depot hours of operation.

Why doesn’t the FRSWC accept used syringes for recycling?

• Used syringes are considered contaminants and are advertised by the FRSWC as being unacceptable items.

• Used syringes can be returned to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton for safe disposal.

• Used syringes are a bio-hazard waste and a significant danger to our employees.

Why doesn’t the FRSWC accept Styrofoam® for recycling?

• Styrofoam® (even though it may have a recycle symbol and number) is considered a contaminant and is advertised as a non-accepted item by the FRSWC.

• Styrofoam® is extremely costly to handle, sort and transport to market.

Where can FRSWC region-wide residents pick up new boxes?

Those participating in the region-wide program can contact Trius at 459-7300. The company will bring the boxes to your residence or you can collect them at Trius’ office at 70 Trius Dr., off the Hanwell Road. This service is for region-wide customers only.

Where can City of Fredericton residents pick up blue and grey boxes?

City Hall on Queen Street (rear entrance) 460-2038

Where Can Village of New Maryland residents pick up blue and grey boxes?

Village Office, 584 New Maryland Hwy (451-8508)

Can the FRSWC provide more than one blue or one grey box?

Region-wide residents are able to use clear plastic bags or cardboard boxes for overflow recycled items. In order to minimize region-wide program costs, one pair of boxes was purchased for each household.

Who should we contact when our boxes weren’t picked up?

• It is recommended all boxes be at the end of driveways by 7 a.m.

• During the winter months, trucks may be later due to snow or ice conditions. You can also contact Trius at 459-7300.

• Trius will collect product except the non-recyclable items. They will attach an “Oops,” sticker with an explanation of the boxes were not collected.

How is paper recycled?

• Paper products are collected and sorted at our Materials Recovery Facility and into different grades such as newsprint, office paper or cardboard.

• Paper is baled and loaded immediately onto shipping containers for shipment to market. Those markets include Canadian-based paper mills and overseas markets.

• When product arrive in mills, the paper is shredded, placed in a pulper and rolled into new sheets of paper, egg cartons, tissue and other products.

What box do I put my milk cartons in? Can I put in similar products like soy milk or orange juice cartons, too?

Milk cartons are made of fibre and wax and are recycled in your blue box. Yes, you can place similar products in your blue box.

What if a product has a recycle symbol on it, but doesn’t have a number inside that symbol?

• The FRSWC only recycles plastics with numbers one through seven inside the recycle symbol.

• Each number represents a certain type of plastic which allows the FRSWC to sort its materials in numerical fashion.

• The FRSWC will not accept unnumbered plastics due to the fact those materials have unknown substances as part of their makeup.

• The FRSWC also does not recycle any type of Styrofoam® regardless of a symbol or number.

What about fluorescent or regular lightbulbs? Why can’t I recycle them?

• Lightbulbs fall under the glass restrictions at the FRSWC.

• Lightbulbs are not a recycled item due to health concerns and lack of a viable market.

Why does the FRSWC charge to take refrigerator or freezers?

• Refrigerators and freezers contain Chloro-Fluro-Carbob (CFC) or Hydrochlorfluorocarbon (HCFC) which are ozone depleting substances.

• The FRSWC hires a Certified Refrigeration Technician to remove the refrigerant before the units are crushed and recycled as scrap metal.

• The CFCs and HCFC’s are removed from the items to prevent their release into the atmosphere during handling and crushing.

Can I recycle batteries?

• The FRSWC will accept batteries at its on-site Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) depot or at region-wide HHW days.

• Alkaline batteries are safe to discard in your garbage.

• You can recycle batteries at Black’s Photography and The Source by Circuit City in the Regent Mall.

• NiCad and Li batteries must be handled carefully to avoid fire risks.

Why does our computer or television go in the landfill?

The FRSWC is presently exploring e-waste studies.