Core Mini -Bins

Coronavirus is impacting virtually every industry. Every business category is either seeing its numbers fall in one way or another, or sizeable disruptions to business. Waste disposal and recycling are not excluded.

Is coronavirus a threat to recycling? How are waste management companies handling coronavirus waste? Could cross-contamination make the spread of the virus worse? How expensive could a disruption to waste management from coronavirus be?

These are all questions that deserve answers. While the coronavirus continues to worsen in countries from Canada to the other side of the Earth, it’s tough to predict the full extent of consequences. Here’s our take on where the relationship between recycling, waste, and the coronavirus are right now.

Is recycling being affected by coronavirus?

At an international level, recycling is being affected by coronavirus. Facilities overseas are equipped with fewer staff. There are difficulties in shipping and transporting recycling and waste. Any growth in waste management and recycling has not only stalled but has lost steam compared to what was initially projected for the year.

Is it ‘business as usual’ in waste management?

At a local level, Canada is fortunate to not have the same level of outbreak as other regions. Garbage pickup, waste removal, and sorting haven’t really been impacted. In waste management, precautions are being followed. It is similar to what’s done to guard against flu influenza.

As of right now, even though coronavirus numbers are increasing in Canada, garbage pickup hasn’t been affected. If things worsen to an extreme degree, this could change. For the foreseeable future, waste pickup and disposal locally and domestically will continue as normal.

What is happening in China with coronavirus and recycling?

Even without coronavirus disruptions, China’s been undergoing a change in its waste and recycling culture. They are no longer accepting certain materials and not entertaining the purchase of others. Although China’s not the only one to blame on the reduced growth in recycling, they play a big influence internationally. What happens in China affects everyone.

Where are we supposed to bring our recycling?

Coronavirus is shutting down certain shipping routes and recycling methods, resulting in accumulations of materials with no place to go. Facilities in China, particularly with scrap recycling, are closed. The plastic recycling industry has several facilities shut down. There are scrapyards in India, among other places, refusing to accept recycling waste.

The Canadian recycling industry employs roughly 110,000 people. It is still very much early days with coronavirus in Canada. If things continue to worsen, it might be reasonable to expect recycling facilities are going to temporarily close and the result may be storage over processing. This is only speculation, of course. It is one possibility, however.

Canada does not have a self-sustaining recycling industry. We rely on other countries to assist in processing recycling. For years, the government’s been called on to expedite recycling development. It is moments like this where such a system would benefit us and our eco commitments.

How is coronavirus affecting waste collectors and sorting facilities?

Anyone working in waste management and recycling facilities is at high risk of contracting coronavirus. This is because they are physically touching the community’s waste. If multiple undiagnosed cases exist, the virus could go from a waste product transferred to the person collecting or sorting the waste.

Waste disposal professionals and sorters are heavily encouraged to practice excellent hygiene. Wear gloves. Disinfect immediately after the job is done. Do not touch your face during a shift and/or while handling waste. In some cases, it may be reasonable to wear a facemask to maximize avoidance of bacteria transfer.

Why Canada will probably make less money this year than last on its recycling

Recycling relies on markets. Without them, we can’t turn a profit. Without a profit, recycling is unjustifiable. Coronavirus could affect that – in a big way.

Until the pandemic is under control, there’s a high level of volatility in the market. Recycling materials that were once valuable could be reduced to significantly less. It could take time for everything to bounce back. Much like other elements of coronavirus’ impact on recycling, the extent of the consequences remains to be seen.

This will no doubt affect the construction and development of new recycling infrastructure. Economically speaking, this could set things back by a year or longer. Some estimates suggest coronavirus may not be adequately contained for a few more weeks in Canada. For the sake of the recycling industry, we hope it is weeks and not months.

How is coronavirus waste being handled?

Coronavirus waste, or any materials that have been in contact with a coronavirus-infected individual, is double-bagged and tied to prevent the spread of the virus. As it’s not an airborne virus, the objective of coronavirus waste is to simply prevent touching.

This directive of ‘double-bag and tied’ is being followed by hospitals and medical facilities. Coronavirus waste should be stored in a secure location not accessible by children or pets. Garbage is then assigned to the relevant container and category of waste.

Waste management companies handling this waste are thankfully very specialized. They are knowledgeable about the expectation around what’s to be done with this waste.

Thus far, no coronavirus transfers have been reported around waste disposal or recycling. For all intents and purposes, we don’t expect to see any.

As long as waste is adequately contained and those collecting are following the appropriate guidelines, there is no reason to believe garbage, recycling, or waste are ever going to be a problem as it relates to the spread of coronavirus.

Are you looking for recycling and waste disposal in the GTA? Contact Core Mini Bins. We offer dumpster and mini bin rentals, waste disposal, and more. We are responsible in handling waste, maximizing landfill diversion efforts and recycling efforts. There’s no reason you should have to settle for less than adequate waste management. We can help. Even with coronavirus raging, companies and households are still creating waste. We’re still offering services. The world is still turning. If you need garbage pickup and disposal, a mini bin rental, junk removal services, or more, reach out.

Waste disposal and recycling should be easy. Every business needs a reliable way to manage waste. A garbage bin rental, dumpster rental, or mini bin rental is the perfect disposal and recycling solution.

Who rents a mini bin or dumpster?

Mini bin and dumpster rentals are arranged by many different people. They’re convenient, customizable in size, and cost-effective. Here are some of the common customers we have renting mini bins and dumpsters.

 Homeowners renovating.  Roofing contractors.  Construction contractors.  Landscapers.  Demolition contractors.  Small business owners.  Corporate office managers.  Industrial site managers.  For office cleanouts.  For garage cleanouts.  For seasonal cleanouts.

How does a mini bin make waste collection easier?

Every business wants to do the most responsible thing when it comes to waste and recycling. A safe method of collecting garbage is needed. That’s where a mini bin comes into play.

A business is given a single location to put all their waste. It isn’t left accumulating in piles or scattered across a job site. It’s all in one hazard-free place.

Disposing of this waste, there are regulations and environmental expectations one must follow. Failure to do so results in fines. A mini bin rental service already knows these rules and regulations inside and out. When you use a mini bin with a trusted company, you’re removing waste in the most eco-responsible way possible.

What size dumpster or mini bin do I need?

Mini bins vary in size from 4 yards to 20. They can be small enough to sit down on a residential property which is great for small renovations, roof replacements or installations, and similar projects. They can also be large enough to accommodate the waste disposal needs of a construction, demolition, or industrial site.

 4-yard mini bin. The smallest dumpster is only 1-yard in size. They are your average rear-loading container. We’ve all seen them. A 4-yard mini bin is four times the size of a dumpster. They are small when discussing waste disposal bins. 4-yard mini bins are often used for clean fill, concrete, block, and brick disposal.

 6-yard mini bin. This is another small mini bin rental. They are used by homeowners and residential contractors to clean up and save money against larger dumpsters. A 6-yard mini bin is perfect for household construction debris, medium-sized renovations, landscaping, seasonal cleanups, and garage or basement cleanouts.

 8-yard mini bin. An 8-yard mini bin continues in the previous trend of bin size and application. Dumpster rentals this size are ideal for concrete, dirt, sod, rock, gravel, brick, and other materials. Its capacity is roughly three truck loads.

 10-yard disposal bin. Now we are moving into mini bin and dumpster territory where you need something bigger. Cost-effective 10-yard bins are ideal for household and construction debris, roofing materials, large renovations, demolitions, and more. A 10-yard bin will fit a standard residential driveway. It is multi-purpose, great for a variety of residential needs, and is worth the investment.

 14-yard dumpster bin. A 14-yard dumpster is large enough to handle estate clean-ups, condo junk removal, and more. For larger cleanups, landscaping, and renovations, a recommended size is 14 yards.

 20-yard dumpster bin. Great for job sites and commercial construction projects. A dumpster this size is about the size of 7 truckloads. They’re perfect for home and office cleanouts, commercial yard work, construction and demolition, and more. This is a large scale dumpster, your best choice in construction.

If you’re not sure what size mini bin is best for you, consult with a representative. Let them know the details of your project. They are sure to help in finding the right size mini bin or dumpster.

Is there enough room to put the mini bin on my property?

This is an important question. You can’t just install a dumpster or mini bin on the street. In neighborhoods across Toronto, some properties barely have enough space to fit a car.

Measure beforehand. Ensure what the mini bin’s going to be placed on isn’t going to incur damage from the weight or drop-off. A driveway or yard works. If you do use the lawn, we advise placing plywood underneath to minimize damage to the grass. If you’re looking at alternatives or have questions, consult with a representative.

How long does it take to have a mini bin rental dropped off at my property?

When you book a mini bin rental, same day service is provided. You don’t have to wait for tomorrow. A representative will drop off a mini bin the same day you call. Just let us know where.

How long do I get to keep a mini bin rental?

The average mini bin or dumpster rental period is between 24 hours and 5 days. If you need a dumpster for longer, let us know. In most cases, it can be arranged. You call us for drop-off and the same occurs for pick-up.

Can I mix materials in my dumpster rental?

Mini bins are rented for specific materials. If you rent a concrete disposal bin, you can’t put in wood. Waste is processed by weight and type. We run into contamination and cost issues as material gets mixed in.

If needed, you may want to rent a couple of mini bins or dumpsters. Each will have a separate use. Confirm beforehand what materials you want to put into your mini bin.

What is not allowed in a mini bin rental?

A mini bin rental accepts many materials. Some though it won’t accept. This is often due to contamination concerns or an inability to appropriately dispose of the material.

What is not accepted in a dumpster or mini bin rental are vehicle batteries, paint, propane and oil tanks, motor oils, gasoline, toxic materials, hazardous waste, medical waste, liquids and food, pesticides, animal carcasses or similar by-products, tires, petroleum products, and Freon from refrigerators, freezers, AC units, and other items.

Managing waste without a mini bin or dumpster, in a lot of cases, is near impossible. Even with a limited budget, it’s much easier and cost-effective to arrange for a mini bin rental. Find legal, affordable, responsible, and reliable same-day mini bin rentals in Toronto and the GTA from Core Mini Bins.

The end of your driveway. Simple. An easy answer to the question, where can I throw out my garbage – if only.

If you have electronics, hazardous waste, construction materials, a whole lot of garbage, mattresses, or furniture, municipal waste management isn’t picking it up.

There are a lot of situations where it might not be clear where you can put your garbage in Toronto.

Let’s clear up any confusion. Here is a breakdown of how waste pickup works in Toronto and what options are available to you.

The three-bin system

Toronto waste disposal and garbage pickup use a three-bin system. With this organization, the City manages more than 500,000 tonnes of garbage. Here is what is allowed to go into where.

 Your garbage bin is where general waste and non-recyclables go. These include food containers, disposal cups, food boxes, plastics, foil wrappers, straws, pet hair, and more.  Blue bin recycling accepts specific items in the categories of plastics, metal, paper, cardboard, and foam polystyrene. It can take some time to learn what’s recycling and what isn’t. This is perhaps why over 30 percent of Toronto’s total blue bin recycling is contaminated.  Your green organics bin is for fruits, vegetables, meat products, pasta, bread, rice, dairy, animal waste, house plants, coffee grounds, diapers, sanitary products, soiled paper including food packaging, and paper towels.

Where can I throw out electronics in Toronto?

Drop off old electronics at a Toronto drop-off depot. They can also be donated if they’re still working. Even if there’s no value to them, the City will take them off your hands for nothing. This includes the following:

 Smartphones and home phones.  Computers and accessories.  VCR/DVD players  TVs, flat-screens, and monitors.  Printer and fax machines.  Cameras.  Speakers.  Turntables.

Where can I throw our hazardous waste in Toronto?

Hazardous waste is tricky. If it’s generated by a business, commercial, industry, charity, or institutional stakeholder, Toronto won’t accept it anywhere. If it’s from your home, you have options.

You can throw out hazardous waste in Toronto at Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Depots and/or on Community Environment Day. The following is considered hazardous waste:

 Car and garage products like antifreeze, car batteries, motor oil, fuel, and windshield washer fluid.  Personal care products like alcohol-based lotion, medications, vitamins, nail polish, syringes, and non-empty aerosol cans.  Household cleaners, abrasive powders, bleach, drain cleaners, floor and furniture polish, and disinfectants.  Pesticides and garden products, including insecticides, fertilizers, and weed killers.  Paints, solvents, and glue.  Propane tanks.  Helium tanks.  Lighter fluid.

Where can I throw out construction or renovation waste?

Installing a new roof. Building a deck or patio. Completing a demolition. Renovating your washroom.

These are all examples of jobs that create a lot of waste. Where you put your renovation waste is inside a dumpster or mini bin rental. Believe us when we say this is the easiest way to manage construction waste. This type of waste includes:

 Wood.  Concrete.  Drywall.  Metal.  Bricks.  Tiles.  Ceramics.  Glass.  Plastics.  Cement.  Paint.  Adhesives.  Sealants.  Roof shingles.

Services like Toronto’s Core Mini Bins even offer same-day mini bin rental or dumpster rental service. Just call us and we arrange drop-off. From that point on, the process is easy. Put your waste in the dumpster. Call for pick-up. Get the waste hauled off, no questions asked.

Where can I throw out office or business waste?

Moving offices or moving out old office equipment is a lot of work. A dumpster or junk removal service for office waste is a great opportunity to keep it simple for yourself. The process works similarly as a mini bin rental for a renovation. Just give us a call.

If your business requires ongoing waste management on a weekly basis, arrange a weekly dumpster rental. The cost is yours. The labour, transportation, and responsibility are on the waste disposal company. Here are some examples of office waste that will need a dumpster or junk removal:

 Computers.  Printers and fax machines.  Chairs and tables.  Cubicle dividers.  Binders.  Old office furniture.  Metal file cabinets.  Telephones.

Business waste isn’t exactly the sort of thing you can ignore or manage on your own. An appropriately sized mini bin is your best bet.

Where can I throw out old furniture and garbage from my condo?

Toronto is filled with thousands of condos. Every month, people move in and people move out. Old furniture needs a place to go. Some condos will want your waste moved quickly. A junk removal company is your answer.

Junk removal services are perfect for students, seniors, and condo owners. Get old furniture moved quickly. You don’t have to lug it down to the road or go against your condo rules. A representative will be there, often same day, to help.

Where can I donate furniture, electronics, and reusable items in Toronto?

A lot of organizations are willing to accept your old electronics and furniture as long as they continue to be functional.

If you aren’t able to lug your items down to a local charity organization, allow the best junk removal service to do it for you. Specify you want something donated and to where. In many cases, garbage pickup can help. Environmentally-friendly waste management is key to junk removal. Anything that can be recycled should be recycled. The same goes for reuse.

Can I throw out my garbage in Toronto without hiring a company?

Toronto does have drop-off depots to collect and sort the city’s waste. Any Toronto resident can throw out unwanted items here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This isn’t without convenience though.

During peak periods – 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm – priority is given to City-operated vehicles. You might have to wait if you arrive at these times. You also have to lay down a $40 deposit, regardless of the size of the load. Some items are accepted. Others aren’t. There are fees for some materials, of course. There’s a long list of materials that aren’t accepted at Toronto garbage depots, ranging from hazardous materials to construction and renovation waste, farm waste, tires, yard waste, liquid waste, soil, and more.

Do you need to throw out some garbage in Toronto – you don’t have to look far. Contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today. You don’t have to go through the hassle of DIYing it. Toronto dumpster rentals, mini bin rentals, junk removal, weekly rentals, waste donations, or whatever you need! Core Mini Bins is your resource.

Bioplastics are highly praised. They’re compostable. They’re plant-based. They’re the plastic savior!

Unfortunately, the truth about bioplastics is very different from how they’re marketed. Though greener, there’s a lot to bioplastics that are problematic. They aren’t all biodegradable. They aren’t all biobased. Bioplastics may very well be a new type of waste problem that we, as a society, aren’t ready to deal with.

Facts about how we use in Canada

 Canada recycles only 9 percent of its plastic waste.  89 percent of our plastic waste is put into a landfill or incinerated.  Plastic incineration creates greenhouse gas emissions. The amount is likely to reach 1.2 gigatons annually by 2030.  There’s evidence showing how plastic ends up in our environment. This harms whales, turtles, seabirds, and all sorts of wildlife.

Plastic waste is a global issue, not simply a Canadian one. It is within our power, however, to change our behaviour. The waste disposal and recycling of plastics is our responsibility. In response to the plastic waste problem, the federal government is proposing a ban single-use plastics Canada-wide by 2021.

What are bioplastics?

Bioplastics fit into three categories.

1. ‘Biobased’ means ‘derived from a biological source’. This could be plastic made from corn, potatoes, organic food waste, or other materials.

2. ‘Biodegradable’ means the plastic can be broken down into natural substances like compost, carbon dioxide, or water. To have this happen, a bioplastic has to be under certain conditions though.

3. Bioplastics that are both biobased and biodegradable.

Some companies are developing wonderful technologies that turn waste into compostable bioplastics. For a cost, we’re almost at the point where waste molecules from anything can be turned into some version of plastic.

Bioplastics is a developing industry, with further growth expected. About 3.6 million tonnes of bioplastics are produced every year. This is a very small percentage within a larger 359 million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide annually.

Different types of bioplastics

 Starch-based bioplastics make up 50 percent of the bioplastics market and are used in compost bags, food packaging, and consumer goods packaging.  Cellulose-based bioplastics.  Protein-based bioplastics are made from wheat gluten, casein, and/or soy protein.  Aliphatic polyesters.  Polyhydroxyalkanoates create a natural plastic from the bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids in nature.  Polyamide 11 is a natural oil-based plastic used in catheters, electronic device components, sports shoes, oil and gas pipes, and anti-termite sheathing.  Bio-derived polyethylene.  Genetically modified feedstocks.  Polyhydroxyurethanes.  Lipid derived polymers create plastic from the synthesis of plant and animal-derived fats and oils.

Are bioplastics an environmentally sustainable plastic alternative?

Bioplastics are not an environmentally sustainable waste product. A lot of bioplastics aren’t biodegradable. This presents a big issue.

The Coke PlantBottle is an example. It uses biopolyethylene, a raw plant ingredient to make plastics instead of fossil fuels. Though this is great news, it still doesn’t produce a bottle that’s broken down like a true biodegradable bottle. The finished product is still plastic.

A bioplastic can also still be made from fossil fuels. A ‘biobased’ product is only required a minimum of 25 percent carbon from biological sources. The other 75 percent can be fossil fuel sources like usual.

You can have the bottle be 100 percent made from fossil fuel as long as it’s biodegradable. Ecoflex, a plastic known as polybutylene adipate terephthalate, is one such case.

The most eco-friendly plastic is no plastic at all. Let’s be clear in saying that. Bioplastics aren’t society’s answer to the plastic problem. They merely complicate it.

Do we have a waste disposal system that can handle bioplastics?

The Coke PlantBottle is still chemically plastic, even if it was made from alternative sources. This means it’s not going to biodegrade and is treated like any other traditional plastic. Our waste management and disposable system for plastics is underdeveloped and cannot recycle bioplastics.

Unfortunately, all types of compostable plastics end up in landfills more often than not. Most Canadian municipal waste systems do not know how to process them. In landfills, society’s bioplastics sit for 100 years or more. They emit potent greenhouse gases all the while breaking down at the same rate as other plastics.

Numerous studies have found biodegradable or compostable plastics fail to deliver on their claims.

A 2017 University of Bayreuth study showed how biodegradable plastics that spent a year in seawater or freshwater did not biodegrade.

A similar study was done two years later on compostable bags which did not compost after 27 months in soil. That’s over 2 years! From our perspective, it’s not difficult to see the bioplastics industry is lying.

What are small businesses supposed to do in search of eco-friendly plastic?

For small businesses that want to do good for the environment, bioplastics aren’t where to look. Unfortunately, those who have were burnt because of it. Giving out compostable plastics to eventually find out they aren’t being recycled is a disappointment no one wants.

There are some compostable plastics, biodegradable plastics, and bioplastics which can be recycled. This is true. Until we have sufficient recycling programs in place though, there’s no way to recycle them.

Are bioplastics the future of the plastics industry?

Plastic manufacturers want to stay in business. Bioplastics are their answer to surviving bans on plastic. Although one day they could be an excellent alternative, today the term ‘bioplastic’ doesn’t count for a lot.

As consumers, we can make the choice to reject bioplastics. Some have gone to criticize bioplastics as green-washing. As a garbage pickup and waste disposable company in Toronto, we have concerns about how bioplastics are being marketed.

As it was said earlier in this article, the best alternative to plastics is nothing close to plastic. Environmentally friendly materials include stainless steel, glass, wood, natural fiber cloth, and paper. These are eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

Continuing to use plastics, in whatever format, is a waste problem. It isn’t solving anything except for allowing major corporations to claim they’ve done something environmentally friendly.

This isn’t to discourage the pursuit of plastic adjacent material. If there was a true biodegradable, biobased bioplastic out there, that would be wonderful. Unfortunately, commercially speaking, there isn’t one right now.

Core Mini Bins is Toronto’s top waste disposal company, offering everything from junk removal to dumpster rentals, garbage pick-ups, waste management for small businesses, and more. Speak with a representative for info on how to set up your property with everything it needs for eco-friendly waste management.

Topsoil. You may have heard the term before. It’s not just regular soil. Topsoil’s better. For landscaping or gardening, topsoil is a great buy. Here’s why.

What is topsoil?

Topsoil is the top layer of soil stripped during construction projects. It is usually composed of ingredients like clay, silt, sand, and other organic matter. It is taken from the top 12 inches of ground.

Topsoil takes a long time to form. One inch of topsoil can take 100 years to form. It’s natural lifecycles embodied in topsoil.

What is topsoil used for?

Topsoil has many uses. It can be used to grade. If it’s a suitable quality, there’s topsoil for gardening.

What you use topsoil for depends on quality. Composition varies. It’s a general term and so a stakeholder buying topsoil will receive it from a local site. Due to its weight and shipping costs, topsoil is not typically transported over long distances. Here are other uses of topsoil.

 Landscapers use topsoil frequently. If they’re building a new garden, new plants get topsoil.  If the quality or quantity of soil is low, topsoil can be added. This immediately improves the quality of the soil.  If the soil around a house is sandy or clay-like, add topsoil. Inches of topsoil can give a home the ability to grow plants, feeding the seeds and allowing new roots to spread.  A less nutrient-rich soil can be used to backfill, for grade changes, or even as a base for patios.  Compacting topsoil can help prevent erosion on some properties and/or act as a foundation for lawns.

What is blended topsoil?

Blended topsoil adds more compost, organic matter, and other materials. This produces organic topsoil that’s ideal for sod, seed, gardens, raised beds, and other similar purposes.

Organic topsoil is a nutrient-rich, mineral-dense soil. It’s like giving your garden its own mini-ecosystem. No chemicals. No synthetics. It’s natural, organic gardening with naturally rich soil.

Is topsoil environmentally friendly?

Topsoil is a very environmentally friendly option. While enriching your soil, you’re contributing to sustainability. You’re reusing soil from local development but also repurposing organic matter coming from plants, fruits, vegetables, and more.

What are the benefits of topsoil?

Above its sustainability, topsoil has many benefits. It doesn’t end with the healthy, green vegetables, flowers, and gardens you can grow from it.

 Topsoil contains a rich mix of nutrients that you need for healthy plants. It also retains moisture and water well which helps with long-term plant growth.

 Topsoil doesn’t just come nutrient-dense. It stays so. The ability of topsoil to retain its nutrients means plant life sustains.

 Topsoil saves you time and money. It’s affordable, helps to balance drainage, and will retain water longer than any synthetic soil can. Plants have everything they need to grow in topsoil.

 Topsoil reduces erosion. If you have bad experiences with root structures becoming exposed, topsoil is a way to reduce the likelihood of this happening.

 Topsoil lowers the need for chemicals and pesticides. The high nutrient composition is protection from pests and disease. If you’ve had to use chemical pesticides in the past, don’t think you will this season. Use topsoil. See the difference.

How do I know how much topsoil I need?

To accurately determine how much topsoil you need for your project, various formulas are available.

The most common is take your length in feet. Multiply that number by your width. Multiply the result by your depth in feet. Then divide the total by 27. This gives you the cubic yards needed.

(Length x Width x Depth) / 27 = cubic yards of topsoil

For laying lawns, it’s recommended to use at least a 4-inch layer of topsoil. For garden beds, including those that are brand new, at least 8 inches or more will be needed.

What can you add to topsoil?

A high-quality landscape has layers of materials. Topsoil is only one. Granted, a very important one.

Topsoil is the foundation on which everything else builds. You can’t have a yard garden or landscaping sitting atop without topsoil in support underneath. Common garden and landscaping options you can add to topsoil include the following.

 Wood chips and shredded leaves. Use them in flower beds, shrub borders, and yard pathways.  Grass clippings. A natural fertilizer, grass clippings are nitrogen-rich which makes an excellent mulch.  Compost. Adding compost enriches the soil. When your plants are happy, they behave accordingly.

What are the different types of topsoil?

Topsoil comes in many types. For the purposes of simplicity, topsoil can be divided into three categories.

1. Economy grade topsoil. This is unscreened topsoil. ‘Unscreened’ means large rocks and similar materials haven’t been screened out. This cheap, quality topsoil is used in applications where you need volume more than quality.

2. General-purpose grade topsoil. This is available in different screen size grades. This type of topsoil can be used to make new garden beds as well as a base for new lawns. This is appropriate for turf laying and top dressing lawns as well.

3. Premium grade topsoil. This is the most expensive kind of topsoil. It is high in fertility and organic material, has excellent structure, and is used to build flower beds and garden areas.

When do you need topsoil?

A number of situations require topsoil. A lot of these have already been mentioned elsewhere in this article.

If your existing soil has been damaged, if there is no natural soil available where one wishes to garden or landscape, and/or if the quality of soil is poor, these are the most common reasons why we buy topsoil.

How do I know I have bought good quality topsoil?

Do your research on the product. Ask questions directly to your supplier. Also, look at it.

Bad quality topsoil is going to look like bad quality topsoil. It could have a lot of stones in it, thick roots, weeds, and/or contaminants like glass. These sorts of materials shouldn’t be topsoil. If you suspect these are included in yours, don’t buy it. Always inspect.

Are you looking for a quality topsoil supplier – contact Core Mini Bins. See the benefits of high-quality topsoil perfect for lawns, landscaping, and more. Organic, enriched topsoil that gives the nutrients and support your project needs.

“Help the environment. Recycle.” We’re told this. The message is in our schools, at work, in newspapers, and all over.

‘Recycle’ sounds nice. As a social concept, it makes sense. There’s a whole business behind recycling though.

The reality is that there’s a cost to recycling and waste collection in the GTA. The person who collects the waste must be paid. The facilities that sort the waste can only do so when rent, equipment, and utilities are covered.

If Toronto is to do its part and reduce waste, this means cost efficiencies will have to happen. Here’s the reality of the rising costs of recycling in our city.

Is recycling cost-effective in Toronto?

Recycling works best when it makes money. When a recycled material doesn’t have a market, we can’t sell it. As much as Toronto may want, recycling sometimes just isn’t possible. Waste collection costs are already high.

In 2017, Toronto made $16 million in revenues by selling recycled materials. According to estimates, this number has been cut in half since. The lowered cost of recycled commodities combined with contaminations has caused this.

Unfortunately, the cost of recycling in Toronto is rising faster than any other municipal service, including police, ambulance, or medical.

What is the cost of recycled commodities?

Commodities include paper, plastics, and metal. The cost for recycled materials like these are in a constant state of flux. It seems like every month we are seeing declines in market prices for aluminum or other materials. Here is a simple breakdown of the costs of recycling in Toronto in 2020.

 The cost of recycling collection is $65/tonne.  The processing cost of recycling is $125/tonne.

How we justify those costs is by selling the materials we recycle. As mentioned, prices are always changing. On average, these are the approximate prices our recycling materials have been selling for.

 Cardboard sells for $55/tonne.  Plastic water bottles sell for $460/tonne.  HDPE bottles, such as detergents, sell for $516/tonne.  Mixed plastics sell for $170/tonne.  Non-aluminum steel cans sell for $290/tonne.  Aluminum cans sell for $960/tonne.

What’s the most valuable recycling material in Toronto?

The most valuable recycling is aluminum. This is the money-maker. Despite the fact it makes up only a small percentage of the recycling collected, aluminum generates roughly a fourth of Toronto’s recycling revenues.

What has lowered recycled commodity prices worldwide?

Two years ago in 2018, China stopped accepting certain recycling products. This meant aluminum, plastics, and paper had nowhere to go. The market was flooded with product. This immediately dropped down pricing.

Prices are so low for some materials. Items like cheap plastics no longer have buyers. The future could change this. For now, continuing to collect low-cost recyclables isn’t feasible. Toronto waste collection facilities and recycling sorters are having to pay to get rid of materials like these.

The prices of mixed paper, cardboard, film plastic, and aluminum cans have fallen by double digits. This isn’t just a Toronto problem. Communities worldwide are feeling the pressure. Some American municipalities have even cancelled their recycling programs altogether.

What reduces the value of recycling in Toronto?

Contamination in blue bins can reduce the value of Toronto recycling to zero. More than 25 percent of the materials collected as recycling is not able to be recycled. This number is growing.

Homeowner errors lower city revenues. Buyers are picky. They understandably want value from the recycled materials they buy. What they don’t want is contaminated, lower quality product.

A piece of paper with a coffee stain on it is garbage. A greasy cardboard pizza box is garbage. Contamination turns recycling into waste. Another example is a half-filled jar of mayonnaise placed in a blue bin. This contaminates all of the contents. If the jar gets mixed throughout a recycling truck, it then ruins everything inside.

If we are going to lower the costs of recycling and waste collection, we must maximize value where we have it. Contamination numbers have to come down. The way to do this is through education.

What can we do to fix recycling costs in Toronto?

There are risks to recycling. You’re relying on the market to set the price. This isn’t ever going to change.

The best way to fix recycling costs in Toronto is with the right program infrastructure investments. Focus on what’s making profits, locally and worldwide. Aluminum cans have a high return. Prioritize, build around what’s building revenue, and reinvest in other money-making channels.

Toronto is fortunate to be a center of innovation. Cultivate partnerships with local companies, manufacturers, and organizations who are willing to buy and reuse recycled materials. New opportunities present every year.

Local networks are where the most revenue could potentially be derived. Local recycling purchasing partnerships mean lower transport costs and fewer expenses. It may be possible to develop local systems wherein Toronto can be less reliant on world commodity costs to derive revenues.

More recycling facilities are being built. This is going to mean more recycling product. From organics to electronics, there’s a way to derive revenues from these sources. Toronto simply doesn’t have the infrastructure yet to find them. But in time, the city will.

Extended Producer Responsibility is another concept some are advocating for. This would implement a system where producers of waste are responsible for its disposal. This diverts cost. Areas of BC already used an EPR system like this. It’s helped them lower costs. Maybe it can do similar things for Ontario.

How do we create a better recycling system in Toronto?

A better recycling system in Toronto is achievable through two processes. The first is to build the infrastructure and system. The second is to supply those systems.

Supply means to create more recycling. We do this by banning single-use disposables like plastic. Implement programs that incentivize alternative recycling materials over single-use disposables.

Every business, household, and person has the chance to become zero waste. That is to reduce landfill waste to zero. This would increase recycling rates tremendously which gives the city increased value in what they’re turning out.

If we are serious about reducing the costs of recycling and waste management, build better infrastructure and supply, supply, supply.

Are you looking for waste collection in the GTA? Contact Core Mini Bins. Improve your landfill diversion rate, increase recycling, and create a greener waste management system for yourself. It’s simple to do and we can help. Your recycling bin and waste disposal is our job.

Recycling is an evolving industry in Toronto. It has become so much easier to do. What wasn’t recyclable now is. More facilities are being built. More items are being accepted. Even with all this development, there are still materials that cannot be recycled.

Virtually every home and business are registered in Toronto’s blue bin program. This recycling program’s designed to collect recyclables. Unfortunately, contamination exists.

Cross-contamination is also a serious concern. When we include what is not recyclable in a collection of materials that is, it contaminates the whole batch. This reduces the value of our recyclables or renders them worthless.

How to be a better recycler starts with knowing what is and is not recyclable. When we recycle correctly, it saves money and is efficient. We also do right by our environment. Here’s what isn’t recycling in Toronto.

Styrofoam

Styrofoam is made from a type of plastic that is difficult to recycle. Due to the difficulty, a lot of cities won’t even bother with it. It is for this reason that styrofoam is not recyclable in Toronto.

Pizza boxes

Pizza boxes are cardboard stained with grease and covered in crumbs. They’re the perfect example of a recyclable contaminated and rendered worthless. Most food containers are unsuitable, for this reason.

Food

One of the worst contaminators of Toronto recycling is organic waste like apple cores and eggshells. These food scraps are better left in a compost bin. When thrown into a recycling bin, everything else soaks up the residue and particles from these scraps.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags are not recyclable. They clog up the sorting machines. They are also made from a type of plastic difficult to recycle, similar to how styrofoam is. This is much of the reason why Canada plans to ban plastic bags altogether.

Coffee cups

Tim Hortons coffee cups and Starbucks coffee cups are not recyclable in Toronto. Though the outside is made from paper, the inside has an oily plastic lining that contaminates the product. This renders it unrecyclable in our current recycling program.

Paper

Paper that has been soiled or coated with wax is not recyclable. Any sort of meat wrapping paper is also not considered recyclable. These are contaminated materials on their own and would contaminate a blue bin’s recycling if included.

Chip bags

Like coffee cups, chip bags are lined with polypropylene plastic. Though they are otherwise aluminum, the inside lining means they aren’t accepted in our single-stream recycling stream.

Aluminum foil

Aluminum is one of the most recycled materials in the world. Aluminum foil is technically recyclable. However, it cannot contain any grease or food residue. As you can imagine, all aluminum foil used to carry food is likely to end up contaminated.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap fits the same category as plastic grocery bags. They can be recycled. We simply don’t have an efficient way to do so. If we did pick up bubble wrap and plastic bags in our curbside recycling, they would damage the sorting machinery. This is why bubble wrap’s not included in the list of recyclables in Toronto.

Cling wrap

Cling wrap is made from polyvinyl chloride. This material is not recyclable, contaminated or otherwise. Any sort of household cling wrap should be placed in the garbage can with the other waste materials.

Coffee pods

Any coffee pods, including Keurig and Tassimo, are not recycled in Toronto. They are made with different materials that cannot be easily separated. The resulting composite material is a self-contaminated non-recyclable.

Clothing

Yes, that’s right. Any clothing or textiles are not considered recycling in Toronto. Like plastic, clothing gets caught in the sorting machine. This results in damaged equipment and potential workplace injuries. Any old clothes, shoes, blankets, or curtains you have can be donated to agencies, organizations, or local non-profits. This is what the city recommends.

Medical waste

Medical waste should be placed in the garbage. Medical waste shouldn’t ever be placed in recycling. This includes catheters, colostomy bags, tubes, and syringes. Ensure these waste materials are properly disposed of. If you’re unsure of how to get rid of specific medical waste, contact your local pharmacy.

Plastic toys

Plastic toys can be donated to a local non-profit. Toys are not recyclable in Toronto. Even if they show a recycling code, no plastic toy should be placed in the blue bin. No municipal waste program in Canada currently accepts plastic toys.

Light bulbs

Light bulbs are made from components that all of which can be recycled. Unfortunately, it requires special processes to separate the various materials that make up a light bulb. No municipal recycling program, including Toronto’s, has this technology. This makes light bulbs unrecyclable.

Black plastic

You may have seen black plastic used in takeout containers. Black plastic is not recyclable for two reasons. First, there isn’t a market for it. This means there’s no way to sell it. Even if there was a way to sell it, the second reason why black plastic cannot be recycled is that the sorting technology does not recognize it.

Ceramics

There are several categories of glass that we do not recycle in Toronto. Ceramics are one. Fortunately, there are private companies willing to accept ceramics. As they continue to grow, we hope to see ceramics included in Toronto’s recycling program.

Electrical cords, hoses, and cables

Electrical cords, hoses, and cables are easily tangled in recycling sorting machines. Electrical cords, fortunately, can be included with suitable electronics you intend to bring to an e-waste sorting facility. Any other hoses, cords, or cables should be put into the waste bin.

Tools

Old tools are not recyclable in Toronto. From power drills to hammers, screwdrivers, and cords, there are a lot of components to remove from them. Each component is in its own category of waste or recycling. This makes it an efficient recyclable. However, if your old tools are still functional, you may be able to donate them.

Recycling in Toronto relies on having the facilities to sort the materials and a market to sell them on. As recycling facilities continue to be built in Canada, we hope that more items will come to be accepted into the city’s blue bin program. The culture of recycling continues to change for the better. As large a city as Toronto is, there’s still a lot more work to do. The quality of recycling must change. Contamination must be reduced. Landfill diversion efforts must be prioritized.

Companies rent dumpsters to give them a place to put their waste. Construction contractors employ dumpsters to catch a variety of materials. They help to keep their job site safe.

You also have offices that rent dumpsters. They use them to manage the large amounts of office waste generated every day.

You will also find dumpsters located behind grocery stores, hotels, medical offices, and restaurants. So many different types of businesses rely on dumpster and mini bin rentals.

Where do you rent a dumpster from?

Dumpster rentals and mini bin rentals come from waste disposal companies. You make arrangements to rent a dumpster in a specific size and length. Your waste disposal company arrives to drop off the dumpster. Then they pick it up at a specified pick-up time.

The process of renting a dumpster is relatively straightforward. The major consideration is size. Ordering a size too small will cause overfilling and/or the contents being overweight. Ordering a size larger than what you need is a waste of money.

Why do companies rent dumpsters?

A company who rents a dumpster does so to make its waste management simple and responsible. In business, the objective is profit. We don’t often think of what to do with our waste. With a dumpster, you have a place to put your waste and know it’s taken care of.

The responsibility of proper waste management then falls on the shoulders of the company dropping off the dumpster. What to do with said waste is regulated by municipal rules. Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as taking a dumpster to the landfill. Materials are sorted.

What can I throw away in a dumpster?

Different areas have different guidelines. The same can be said for waste disposal companies offering to rent dumpsters and mini bins. Before you rent a dumpster, speak with the provider. Mention the materials you want to dispose of. Get their approval.

A mistake like including hazardous materials or organic waste in a dumpster can prove very expensive. This isn’t a mistake you want to pay the cost on. An easy solution is clearing it beforehand. Here’s a list of what can and cannot be included in a dumpster rental.

Can I put appliances in a dumpster rental?

You can include appliances in a dumpster rental. You do have to make sure all hazardous materials have been removed from them.

This involves knowing what components and fluids are hazardous. For example, an old refrigerator’s going to have refrigerant that needs to be disposed of first. Here are the basic appliances that are safe for a dumpster rental.

 Dryers.  Washers.  Ovens.  Hot water tanks.  Dishwashers.  Air conditioning units.

Can I put furniture in a dumpster rental?

You can put most furniture in a dumpster rental. In some cases, mattresses and upholstered furniture are not accepted. This varies by location.

For some companies, there are also additional charges for furniture. This is why you always want to confirm with a dumpster provider beforehand if you’re tossing out any large items. Here is the furniture that is generally accepted when you rent a dumpster.

 Dining tables and chairs.  Cabinets.  Shelves.  Bed frames.

Can I put electronics in a dumpster rental?

Electronics in a dumpster rental is unusual. Electronics like televisions and computers carry components that can be recycled. For this reason, they should be brought to an electronics recycling drop-off location.

That said, some dumpster rentals permit electronics. Dumpsters sometimes are rented for office cleanouts. In cases like this, an exception by a waste disposal service is sometimes made. If electronics are your primary item, another option is calling a junk removal service.

Can I put yard waste in a dumpster rental?

Yard waste is accepted in most dumpster rentals. It weighs a lot. Be sure to check weight restrictions. Trees, branches, grass, and soil add up quickly. You also may have limits on the amount of yard waste permitted in a dumpster. Coordinate with your provider for more information.

What kind of construction waste can I put in a dumpster rental?

Dumpsters are an excellent investment for home builders, renovations, and construction contractors. Construction debris needs a place to be put. Enter in a dumpster. Whether it’s just you doing renovations or a full crew, a dumpster’s your solution.

Once again, check weight limits. Construction waste can be heavy. You also want to ensure there’s no asbestos or hazardous materials. Any inclusion of these things means more fees and contamination. Here is what construction waste is accepted in a dumpster.

 Asphalt.  Bricks.  Concrete.  Stones.  Curtains.  Carpets.  Wood.  Drywall.  Roofing shingles.

What happens to the materials I put in a dumpster rental?

In a lot of cases, a dumpster is taken to a sorting facility. The materials are then sorted. What’s recyclable is recycled. What isn’t is sent to a landfill. Care is taken to maximize the materials available.

Things like wood or a lot of construction waste are highly recyclable. These materials are often repurposed by local organizations or sent to facilities where they can be remade into another product.

If you have concerns or questions about what will happen with your dumpster waste, a representative at Core Mini Bins is happy to let you know what we do. Eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable dumpster and mini bin rentals are our focus.

What am I not allowed to put in my dumpster rental?

Some materials are not accepted in a dumpster rental and they never will be. Some are hazardous materials. Others require careful handling to properly dispose of them. Here’s a quick list of what you can’t put in your dumpster rental.

 Paints.  Thinners.  Lacquers.  Stains.  Oils.  Tires.  Asbestos.  Automotive fluids.  Pesticides.  Medical waste.  Sealed tanks or drums.  Some electronic waste.  Some types of furniture.  Cleaning solutions.  Propane tanks.  Car batteries.  Dry cell batteries.

Rent a dumpster today. We offer same-day delivery to anywhere in Toronto. Let us know what size, the time you need it for, and what you’re putting in. Core Mini Bins are the easiest to deal with and very accommodating to our clients. Contact us directly for more information.

Every business creates waste. Even companies who plant trees create waste products in their efforts. Your average Toronto corporate office generally fixates on other priorities above management of their waste. That doesn’t mean it isn’t important.

A lot of offices in Toronto want ways to reduce waste, increase recycling, and manage the waste they have to create. As a waste disposal company, there are two pieces of advice we give on this – properly dispose of the waste you’re already creating and use alternatives to reduce the waste created.

Where are there opportunities to purpose and reuse your office business waste?

An office that wants to be smart about their waste needs relationships. A lot of larger multi-national corporations launch initiatives based off these relationships that focus on recycling and/or repurposing waste.

As a small business or independent business, the biggest opportunity there is to develop relationships that allow you to repurpose waste is by hiring a waste disposal company. Waste disposal, junk removal, dumpster, and mini bin rental companies all have partners in waste management and recycling facilities. They do this on a daily basis. They also know where to take things like electronics and furniture which can be donated.

How do I make a waste management strategy for my business?

Every corporate office, small business, or commercial establishment of any kind should have some sort of a waste disposal plan in place. A business can’t get by without it. If you want to control your office waste better, get to know the waste you’re creating and where it’s going.

A key component of a waste management plan is where you’re going to put the waste. Dumpster rentals and mini bin rentals can be advantageous for this reason. If you don’t have space for a dumpster, consider assigning a room to be your ‘waste room’ ensuring it doesn’t conflict with fire safety standards.

Throughout your office, you want to have the necessary garbage cans to collect and keep separate the waste and recycling as well.

What is the value of a waste disposal service for my business?

Core Mini Bins is a top Toronto waste disposal service with dumpsters, mini bins, junk removal, and other business-friendly services. There are several benefits to working with a waste management company like our own.

 Convenience.  Find better ways to manage your waste.  Reduce your impact on the environment and get the numbers to show it.  Have a way to separate hazardous materials to ensure proper disposal.  Have strategies to safely dispose of or recycle electronics, metals, and chemicals.  Cost-effectiveness.  Receive customized suggestions on a waste management plan that prioritizes landfill waste reduction.  Get more space in your office to work with, after removing broken equipment and instituting a waste collection area.  Ensure no fines relating to waste disposal are assigned to your business.

How can I maximize the affordability of a waste disposal plan for a business?

If you find that it’s going to cost you more to successfully manage waste through a dumpster rental, one strategy is to try and split these costs between other businesses. If you’re fortunate enough to have a business neighbour, ask to see if they want to share the expense with you.

Depending on the situation, you may need to ask a neighbour for their permission to install a dumpster on the premises anyways. If they do agree to split the costs with you, that’s instant savings on your wallet and without compromising the efficiency of your office waste management strategy.

Do I need junk removal for my Toronto business?

Increasing waste management efficiency can sometimes mean starting with a clean slate. Decluttering an office is a great way to get out the things you don’t need and start anew. Assuming there’s equipment you’re not using, computer or electronics waste that hasn’t yet been addressed, and other objects you want gone, schedule a small business Toronto junk removal.

A junk removal service will drop in and pick up everything you want to part with. Before scheduling the pick-up, give yourself the time to sort through everything in the office. Some office managers may want to allow themselves a weekend to do this. If you have office electronics, chemicals, hazardous materials, or other special items that require special consideration, mention this to the company.

What waste can be recycled in an office?

A lot of what offices produce in waste is recyclable but some waste understandably isn’t. Efforts to reduce waste in landfills from your office involve replacing non-recyclables with recyclable alternatives. Here is a quick list of office recyclables in Toronto.

 Paper products, including newspapers, cardboard, flyers, and shredded documents.  Aluminum.  Electronics such as televisions, computers, monitors, printers, tablets, and phones.  Paints including most aerosols, varnishes, and stains.  Batteries can be recycled through Home Depot or Staples.  Fluorescent light tubes require special handling but can be recycled.

What are some strategies to use to increase office recycling?

The more you recycle, the less landfill waste you create – that’s the bottom line. If you want to own an eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable business, pro-recycling strategies should be a focus of your waste management plan. Here are our best tips on how to increase office recycling.

 Separate organics. If you have an office kitchen, have a separate trash can for food scraps, paper towels and napkins, coffee grinds and tea bags, and compostable plates and cutlery.

 Purchase inventory that is recyclable. Eliminate waste that isn’t. For example, single-use plastics relating to food packaging, straws, and plastic bags have alternatives. Be mindful of what you’re buying for the office. Ask if there’s a pro-recycling alternative that can replace it.

 Have systems in place to collect more recycling so that recyclables aren’t ending up in the trash because of there being no place to put them. Common recycling materials mistaken as waste in offices include electronics, light bulbs, batteries, printer and toner cartridges, cardboard, aluminum cans, and magazines.

 Stop buying disposable coffee cups. The average office worker in Canada uses 500 disposable cups a year. Instead of disposables, provide reusable coffee mugs and water bottles. This cuts out a huge amount of waste going into your waste stream on a daily basis.

 Encourage a paperless office environment. While few offices can go fully paperless, opt for digital communications whenever possible. Edit and proof any documents on the computer before printing. Try to print on both sides of the paper, when you do have to print. Try to switch all paperwork relating to purchasing and invoicing, memos, announcements, and internal communications to email.

Opportunities to increase office recycling exist. Are you ready to take your office waste management to the next level – call Core Mini Bins today.

Canada has a waste management record of mixed results. A lot of analyses comparing Canada’s efforts to other countries regularly rank us as having one of the worst waste management records among developed nations.

Is there room for improvement – absolutely. In an effort to give a full glimpse of the waste management problem in Canada, we’ve assembled the data and outline the opportunities that exist.

Every year, we send millions of tonnes of waste to our landfills. This is expensive, increases demands on our waste disposal facilities, and is a missed opportunity when we calculate the value of minerals and recyclables that aren’t being retrieved from our waste stream.

Does Canada have a waste problem?

 Each Canadian generates an average of 2.7 kg of waste every day. By this definition, Canada produces more garbage per capita than any other country on Earth.

 The two largest categories of waste in Canada are agricultural waste at 181 million tonnes annually and industrial waste at 1.12 billion tonnes annually. Total waste in Canada, as of 2017, is 1.33 billion tonnes of waste per year.

 The City of Toronto alone produces 900,000 tonnes of waste every year, a number continuing to grow with each passing year.

 Canada maintains over 10,000 landfill sites countrywide. Emissions from our landfills account for 20 percent of Canada’s national methane emissions.

Yes, Canada has a waste problem. We wish it wasn’t true but it is. On a national scale, and regionally in provinces like Ontario and cities like Toronto, we don’t do nearly a good enough job as a society in keeping our country clean.

How much does Canada recycle?

We not only have a waste problem but Canada has a recycling problem as well. A lot of recycling in Canada is shipped off to landfills every day. That’s because we either lack the facilities to process our recycling or we don’t have the means of recycling certain materials.

 Canada’s total recycling rate is not known precisely. What is known, however, is Canada’s recycling rate is worse than the UK, France, and the United States.

 Every municipality is different, meaning that what’s recyclable in Toronto is not necessarily recycling in Vancouver. It varies city by city which only exacerbates common recycling issues such as contamination.  Canada recycles only 9 percent of our plastics with the rest ending up in a landfill somewhere.

What is Canada’s worst province for waste disposal?

The province that produces the most waste in Canada is Ontario with 9.2 million tonnes annually. The next worst provinces in Canada for waste production are Quebec at 5.2 million tonnes, Alberta at 3.9 million tonnes, and BC at 2.7 million tonnes. This is somewhat to be expected as these provinces have the highest populations in the country as well.

What is the best waste disposal strategy for Canada?

Advocates in waste management and recycling are advocating for a closed-loop recycling system. This is considered the best waste disposal strategy for Canada. Another way to say it is a circular waste economy.

A closed-loop recycling system is one where there is zero non-recyclable waste produced. Society in Canada would have to consume and produce materials that were either biodegradable or recyclable, to achieve a circular waste economy. We are unfortunately a long way from achieving this.

What are the key opportunities that exist in waste and recycling for Canada?

Under a circular waste economy or a closed-loop recycling system, there are several opportunities we have today to help Canada get there. Here is a list of recommendations for what Canada can do to recycle more and waste less.

 The banning of certain single-use non-recyclable materials is a strong strategy that current governments seem to favor. With the discussed ban on plastics in Canada beginning in 2021, this is one example of something that will inch us closer to zero waste.

 Waste disposal limits legislated per household or per business is a controversial subject however it’s one that has a lot of data supporting it as a way to drive waste reduction and landfill diversion.

 At a provincial and federal level, the government has a lot of tools at their disposal to create a more waste-friendly economy. If they wanted to get it done within the next year, it’s very possible we could see significant increases in recycling. The best government recycling strategies in Canada include tax breaks or carbon offset incentives to encourage the use of recycled content, the implementation of pilot projects such as those for mattress recycling, and more.

 There has not been very much discussion at a provincial nor federal level regarding organics. That is, composting and ways to manage food waste. Despite this, composting’s seen a noticeable increase in use Canada-wide over the past two decades. More composting programs and/or organic-to-energy facilities could improve upon current waste numbers. A landfill ban on organics could also potentially assist participation.

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

In certain parts of Canada, like BC, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been implemented. EPR is a system that says the responsibility to recycle and process waste is the manufacturers.

This means that instead of a city, municipality, or province having to find a manner of disposing of certain materials, the company making the product must work with a region to find an appropriate waste management system.

Some version of an EPR could be implemented nationwide or in other regions such as Ontario where the waste problem is more evident than in other areas. This is another way to make improvements to Canada’s existing waste and recycling system which, for all intents and purposes, is broke.

Why is Canada so bad at managing its waste and recycling?

Canada’s issues with managing waste have to do with an industry way underdeveloped. The sort of moves being made today, in terms of discussing a ban on single-use plastics and initiatives to further build out our waste processing network, are conversations that should have happened a decade ago.

Thankfully, the opportunities are there for change. They exist. It’s just a matter of having the economic, social, and political power to make it a reality. In our heart of hearts, we believe Canada can be a giant in recycling and waste management. Until we get serious about becoming better than ‘the worst at waste management’, Canada will be playing catch-up in crisis mode.

Are you looking for waste disposal in Toronto? If you’re a business or home in need of waste management help, dumpster or mini bin rentals, junk removal, or construction waste disposal, give us a call. We want to help. Contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today.

A massive category of waste management and waste disposal services in Toronto are construction-produced materials. Seemingly every day, we send more building waste to landfills. When the majority of this material is reusable or recyclable, it’s shocking how much receive the landfill treatment.

As we erect 100s of new units, condo buildings, apartments, and homes, construction creates waste. There is no avoiding it. A lot of this comes from demolition which on average produces over 155 pounds of waste per square foot. This adds up very quickly. When construction waste isn’t managed properly, it contributes to three effects.

 The overflowing of Ontario landfills.  Deteriorating ecosystems.  A loss of valuable reusable or recyclable materials.

What is construction waste?

Construction waste is defined as things like asphalt, concrete, gravel, bricks, ceramics, wood, plumbing, insulation, glass, metal, and electrical fixtures. According to an estimate by Construction Specifications Canada, construction waste makes up 23 percent of Canada’s overall waste stream.

What is the environmental impact of construction waste in our landfills?

It is easy for a construction company to dump unused or unwanted materials into a landfill. Sometimes, dumpster rentals or bin rentals for construction are provided by unethical companies without a commitment to the environment. All they care about is collecting waste, dropping it at the landfill, and getting paid. What this approach to construction waste does is have a very sizeable negative impact.

Landfills emit methane and other chemical fumes polluting the air around us. Paints, varnishes, and other hazardous chemicals that enter our landfills through construction waste cause an added effect of some of this very harmful waste seeping into the Earth. Any sort seepage like this can pollute our groundwater, destroy ecosystems and waterways, and contaminate limited freshwater supplies. This is why construction waste needs to be very carefully handled. The alternative is a level of pollution which while entirely unnecessary can also really wreck the environment around us.

How do we solve the construction waste problem in Toronto?

We can solve the construction waste problem in Toronto with a dual-pronged approach – reducing non-recyclable waste and reusing our recyclables.

Construction and demolition can’t happen without the material involved. Ensuring those are recyclable materials should be priority. Construction project managers should also ensure what they’re ordering isn’t producing leftovers that need to be tossed. Over-ordering is sadly very common. Workers should also be properly trained in recognizing salvageable or recyclable materials.

As it relates to demolition waste materials, we recommend using a deconstruction approach which involves removing materials more strategically. This minimizes the spread of potentially hazardous dust and also ensures no items or materials that are reusable end up destroyed to such a degree that they are no longer.

What does a deconstruction do for a construction waste management protocol?

A deconstruction is such a great approach to demolition and construction because not everything is necessarily waste or recycling. Some things can be salvaged and reused like they already are. Aluminum gutters, wooden beams, and copper wiring are all in high demand, as examples of what a deconstruction can procure.

Materials like these that are picked up from demolition can be sold for profit, donated, or potentially repurposed on newly constructed homes. This sort of salvaging will save the extraction of non-renewables like copper, aluminum, and steel. You’re also saving the many systems surrounding soil, water, and that gets disturbed every time we mine.

What construction materials are recyclable?

Concrete, wood, metals, and asphalt are all recyclable construction materials. The concrete industry can create new concrete from these recyclables, just like the glass recycling industry can do the same with recycled glass materials.

There’s so much more that can be recycled on a construction site as well, like light fixtures, hardware, and appliances. If possible, connect with a local charity organization. If you live in Toronto, several organizations are willing to accept furniture, appliances, light fixtures, hardware, electronics, and more from construction and demolition. It doesn’t hurt to have a relationship with a party like this. Offloading the materials you don’t want to recycle or self-manage takes some of the strain off you.

If you rent a dumpster for a construction or demolition – and let’s face it, you should! – ensure dumpsters are properly labeled as either ‘waste’ or ‘recycling’. When a worker puts waste into recycling, it could potentially contaminate what’s in there. You want to keep the bins separate and marked, ensuring recyclable materials can be recycled without issue.

What do the laws in Ontario say about construction waste?

Ontario has several regulations guiding construction, demolition, and waste disposal in development. The two main regulations are as follows.

 A requirement to provide work plans and audits.  Construction firms must engage in source separation programs for materials including, but not limited to, brick, drywall, steel, wood, and Portland cement.

The current Ontario Conservative government is discussing several possibilities relating to maximizing construction waste recycling. The potential regulations to come include the following.

 An obligation to engage in landfill diversion efforts on every construction project.  Waste-to-energy programs that allow construction firms to divert landfill waste by converting non-recyclable waste into energy.  An Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP) obligation that assigns a firm responsibility to recycle to the construction company. Ontario ERP regulations already apply to tires, batteries, electronics, lighting, appliances, and paint and solvents. If allowed on constructions, this would mean materials such as flooring, carpets, furniture, tiles, lighting, electronics, and appliances would have to be recycled.

What’s somewhat problematic is that Ontario has a commitment to go waste-free by an unspecified date outlined in the Waste-Free Ontario Act, 2016. Despite the well-intentioned legislation, construction waste is not included in this commitment. The current provincial government hopes to inspire the private sector to find the solutions needed to reduce waste in contraction without imposing definitive restrictions that need to be met.

Are you looking for waste disposal for your construction waste? Core Mini Bins is a waste management firm with a commitment to landfill diversion and the reusability and recycling of construction materials. We offer dumpster and bin rentals, demolition, excavation, bobcat services, and more. Let us assist you on your next construction project to control your waste, recycling, and deconstruction. Contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today.

Demolition and excavation contractors are very important in the Toronto recycling industry. Development wouldn’t be able to continue without the use of contractors in excavations, bobcat services, and demolition.

When you need to tear a building down to make room for a new construction, you call demolition contractors. When you need a site cleared so that you can move forward with redevelopment, excavators and bobcat operators come in handy.

The obstacles in front of your construction are what Toronto contractors like us specialize in removing. When hiring an excavation, demolition, or bobcat contractor, there are no doubt questions you want answered. What your prospective contractor says in response will communicate a lot regarding how they do business and whether they’re worth hiring.

Does your excavation contractor have a business license?

Anyone with a bobcat or excavator can do the work if they’re experienced enough. They aren’t operating legally though if they aren’t under a business license. By hiring a contractor where everything’s official and they are a legitimate business, this ensures your interests are protected.

Is your excavator and demolition crew licensed, certified, and trained?

Your excavation and demolition crew should be properly certified, experienced, and fully trained. This may seem obvious but if you don’t ask this question, you could run the risk of allowing someone on your construction site with the potential to cause a health and safety accident. A safe and efficient excavation or demolition requires a specific set of skills. Techniques, tech, and safety regulations sometimes change. The contractors you hire should have updated knowledge on what the expectation is of them in their roles.

Is your excavator or demolition crew experienced?

It’s one thing to say you’re experienced and it’s another thing to be experienced. Ask about past projects your contractor has worked on. The best way to ensure a job gets done safely, according to schedule, and on budget is to go with a team that’s done this before.

Should the excavator or demolition company I hire be insured?

You want to protect your interests, as should an excavator or demolition contractor. Contractors uninsured shouldn’t even be entertained. An excavation or demolition should only be done by those properly insured and trained to carry out the work.

Does the excavator or demolition service have references?

If this is the first time hiring a Toronto excavation or demolition service, don’t hesitate to ask for references. A contractor should be used to being asked for references and willing to provide them. These will include past projects they have worked on and preferably similar environments like the one you’re asking them to work in.

How important is it to conduct an asbestos inspection before a demolition?

Asbestos is serious business. Any building that’s about to be demolished should be thoroughly inspected beforehand to ensure asbestos is safely removed. You shouldn’t be discovering asbestos as you’re undergoing deconstruction or demolition.

Asking for an estimate from an excavator or demolition service

Obviously, a big concern you may have in hiring an excavation or demolition contractor is schedule and budget. Any experienced contractor will usually provide a free no-obligation estimate on demolition and excavation, often complete with the schedule on which they would work. The quote should be fairly accurate to what the finished expense will be. It is integral to understand everything that’s included and what isn’t. Ask about the specifics. Not every estimate is the same. You don’t want a surprise come payment time, with services that weren’t originally included or additional fees.

How will the clean-up of materials be handled after demolition or excavation?

Understand how materials will be cleaned up after demolition. Sometimes, cleanup will be included in the initial estimate and quote. Other times, it can be an additional cost. Ideally, you don’t want to be handling the mess yourself although a dumpster or mini bin rental can be arranged to assist with that. As much of the materials as possible from a demolition should be recycled however, this isn’t always possible.

Is there a way to salvage demolition materials to be reused?

As a site is demolished, a lot of recoverable materials are produced. Even the concrete is recoverable. Metal is particularly desirable. An experienced Toronto demolition contractor likely has relationships with local recycling plants, waste disposal methods, and organizations open to accepting materials that will otherwise be thrown into a landfill somewhere. The more landfill space we save through a smart, eco-friendly demolition, the better.

What level of priority will health and safety be given on-site?

If you’ve ever had someone get hurt on your construction site, you know it’s not a good feeling. Health and safety should be a top priority for any contractor you hire. Especially in demolition, you want to have a safety plan in place that covers the property, the people on it, and the contractors completing the job. Minimize environmental hazards, protect others, and know the risks of hazardous materials.

What is the cancellation policy around a demolition or excavation?

The unfortunate thing about construction in Toronto is that often, plans change. There are cancellations or postponements, or unexpected events that push back the schedule and/or increase the overall cost. Before signing a contract with a demolition or excavation contractor, know what the cancellation clause is. You want to save yourself time, effort, and money, and ensure your contractor’s acting in the same way. Both parties should be aware of the risks involved.

There are no better 11 questions to ask a contractor doing excavations, demolitions, or offering bobcat services than these. If you’re looking for high-quality, reliable excavation and demolition contractors, contact Core Mini Bins today. We are more than happy to answer all these questions and any others you may have. Our utmost priority is to conduct a safe, efficient construction operation while recycling and salvaging as much of the material as possible. We maintain a commitment to excellence that is unparalleled in the industry. As your construction partner, you can hold us to that.

Completing demolitions and deconstructions, you occasionally find materials that contain asbestos, mold, or that are plagued with water damage. These construction materials usually aren’t salvageable and need to be disposed of in a very specific way.

A lot of homeowners and property managers may not even be aware that there are mold-containing materials on-site. Prior to completing a deconstruction of any kind, it is important to conduct an analysis of what’s being torn down. This will hopefully help to distinguish between materials which can be recycled and what cannot.

Where will I find asbestos in a home or building?

Asbestos is most commonly found in cement mixed with asbestos fibres. These are known as asbestos cement, fibro, low density fiber boards, or AC sheeting. Any building component stamped with ‘AC’ may contain up to 40 percent asbestos so beware. Why asbestos and cement are such a dangerous combination is because as they age, they become dust. This means anyone can breathe it in. Here are some other areas where you find asbestos in a home for demolition.

 Textured coatings.  Sprayed coatings on walls, beams, and columns.  The aforementioned asbestos in construction cement used to be applied in finishings, insulation, joinings, masonry, and toppings.  Older tiles and vinyl floors can sometimes contain asbestos.  Asbestos insulating boards.  Older sealants and adhesives – things like sticky tape and duct tape – can contain trace amounts of asbestos.  There could also be loose asbestos in the ceiling or floor cavity, something which is often discovered in older homes during demolitions and renovations.

Where will I find mold in a demolition?

Mold is a fungi. It develops in places that are typically damp or wet, warm, and surrounded by humid conditions. If you have wet or damp areas in the home, it is likely you have mold that’s growing somewhere. Mold’s relatively small and can be hidden in holes or cracks. Oftentimes, we’re completely unaware of our exposure to mold. The most common areas to find mold is bathrooms, walls, under carpet, and in basements and attics.

What are common mold types you’ll find in a renovation or demolition?

If you’re deconstructing or taking apart a home, there are several types of mold you very well may find.

 Stachybotrys, otherwise known as ‘black mold’ is the most common type of toxic mold discovered in demolitions. Though it resembles black, on further examination, it is actually closer to a green-ish black.  Cladosporium is a type of mold that is known to cause allergic reactions among human beings. For this reason, cladosporium is discovered quicker than other mold types if someone’s living in the home.  Penicillium is a type of mold that is blue-ish in color and is considered a food contaminant.  Alternaria can appear as black or gray mold, is easily discovered on examination, and is known to be the cause of allergic reactions.  Aspergillus is a type of mold that can appear in a number of different colors. If you have a compromised immune system, aspergillus can cause severe harm.

Where am I likely to find water damage in a demolition?

A demolition can bring to light materials that have been water-damaged. This is most likely to occur in attics and basements. The attic, for example, doesn’t see much traffic. Though attics make a great storage space, they can also be damaged by leaks in the roof which can subsequently cause mold issues. You wouldn’t be none the wise either because we visit so rarely.

Basements and crawl spaces are also prone to water damage, as the lowest point of your property. Hard rains bring water that, if the ground doesn’t soak it up, can find their way in. Foundations can deteriorate and allow water to flow underneath a home. A plumbing leak can also potentially create a leak.

Water damaged materials in a demolition can sometimes be salvaged but not always. Some otherwise recyclable materials can be ruined depending on the condition. If you have any concerns, it’s best to speak with a waste disposal and demolition expert such as Core Mini Bins who are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

What is deconstruction?

If you want a demolition to simply knock down a property and clear the site, this is easily accomplished but it is a little dated. These days, more demolition contractors are moving to becoming deconstructionists. What we mean by this is that ‘deconstruction’ is the act of dismantling a building with the singular goal of maximizing the recycling value of materials removed.

Deconstruction is an eco-friendly version of demolitions. The great thing about a deconstruction is that, in some cases, mold, water damaged materials, and asbestos is carefully removed and doesn’t affect the value of the rest of the materials.

Whether you choose a deconstruction or a more classic version of a demolition, the resulting demolition waste will be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces and then sorted and/or salvaged, or sent to the landfill if they don’t possess any long-term value. There are numerous factors that go into what kind of demolition your project may require, from one’s schedule to the cost of recycling and more.

How do I maximize the recyclability of my demolition materials?

It is estimated that on average 75 percent of waste materials collected from a Toronto demolition’s recyclable. A great way to maximize how much of your demolition you recycle begins with the list below.

 List all materials onsite before the demolition commences, identifying any hazardous materials or materials which you believe are rendered unrecyclable.  Identify any salvaging or recycling opportunities that may exist before you start the demolition.  Connect with facilities in the local area that accept the materials you’re going to create through your renovation or demolition.

Connect with a demolition contractor committed to recycling, reusing, and minimizing landfill waste. Core Mini Bins handles everything from demolition to waste disposal, dumpster rentals, junk removal, and more. We have a lot of relationships with facilities in the area, allowing you to minimize what has to be sent to the landfill.

There’s so much that can be reused from a demolition or renovation, including appliances, architectural details, concrete, bricks, carpet, asphalt, aggregates, drywall, electrical components, doors, windows, cabinets, countertops, gates, railings, glass, heating and cooling systems, light fixtures, metals, wood, paper, plastics, and more. Core Mini Bins can help.

Every year, the world pushes forward with tech discoveries, recycling processes, and facilities providing new methods to rehabilitate materials that would otherwise be sent to the landfill. As we’re still early on in 2020, we’ve decided to put together a quick countdown of new, exciting recycling technologies that are at various stages of development. These new, high-tech advancements have the potential to make some big changes to how Canada recycles.

Rare Earth elements recycling

We likely face a future where we rely on technology to clean up our messes despite the most obvious approach being to cut down on waste as a whole. Companies like Apple have dedicated significant parts of their R&D to finding how to build electrical components from recyclables. The iPhone 11 impressively used a set of 17 metals recycled for its phones, a feat which experts deemed impossible to do years earlier. The world is changing and with that, products using recycled materials face the brightest future.

Nuclear waste recycling

One of the most impressive recycling tech discoveries in the last six months is a process which recycles nuclear waste. Previously believed to be useless and incredibly dangerous, at the University of Bristol researchers have been able to transform nuclear waste into batteries with capacity to provide power for 1,000s of years. The technology is still in its developing stages, infusing nuclear waste extracted from graphic blocks with wafer-thin diamonds to create a battery which could be used in devices like hearing aids and pacemakers, or even to power spacecraft.

Robotic arm sorter

Various versions of robotic arm sorters are being used at recycling facilities all over the world. Recently built facilities have an even more advanced robotic arm sorter with the capacity to recognize different materials and essentially complete the job without human intervention. Although this sort of automation has some worried in the waste management industry, it demonstrates a lesser cost for facilities to operate which could equate to more facilities in the decades to come.

Apple’s Daisy

Daisy is a material sorting technology invented by Apple. It sorts through more than 200 iPhones every hour, recycling every one for the precious metals utilized in their design. Metals are recyclable because they don’t lose their properties when you recycle them. In an era, where there’s so much electronic waste, there’s a growing interest in metal sorting and material procurement that avoids losing these metals to landfills where they don’t belong.

Li-Cycle lithium battery recycling processes

As an operator, Li-Cycle has come up with a way to recycle between 80 to 100 percent of batteries through mechanize size reduction and material recovery. The process begins by shredding down the packs and battery cells. Then a hydrometallurgical process is used take what’s recyclable after the fact, after a chemical reaction. This process turns hazardous waste into non-hazardous waste. Absolutely spectacular!

Tyton BioSciences clothing recycling

The fashion industry creates a lot of clothing waste on an annual basis but through tech and processes like that at Tyton BioSciences, raw materials like cotton pulp and polyester can be retrieved and made into new fabrics. Using hydrothermal processes involving water, heat and pressure, this is one of the cleanest ways to recycle fabrics in this way and could expand in the years to come to include virtually any clothing type. If this ends up being the case, this would eliminate the trillions of pounds of clothing waste generated in any given year.

Pyrowave plastics recycling

As one will find a lot of recycling tech is targeting the recycling or processing of plastics. The Pyrowave corporation has come up with a way to regenerate non-recyclable by breaking them down into ‘monomers’ to then be made into new resins that are near identical to virgin plastics. For traditional non-recyclable plastics like PP, PE, PS, and others, this is a major breakthrough suggesting that maybe one day in Canada there may be no such thing as non-recyclable plastic.

Flameless oxy-combustion

Originally designed for the oil and gas industry, flameless oxy-combustion could potentially help recycle unsorted plastics. The process of flameless oxy-combustion produces water, energy, and pure carbon dioxide that is not emitted into the atmosphere. For non-recyclable mixed plastics, this may prove to be a way to regain the energy lost in the manufacturing of plastics while converting the material into usable materials.

UBQ

UBQ is another company that’s focused on producing eco-friendly plastics from recycled materials. UBQ uses unsorted household waste to do so however, converting it into eco-sustainable, biodegradable thermoplastics which can be applied in commercial and industrial projects. This is alternative to the petroleum-based plastics that are used today in such applications. By creating natural resources from general items guaranteed to be sent to the landfill, you avoid harmful gases from decomposition, landfill space given away, and more. The company’s process is believed to save 11.7 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents for every 1 kg of plastics produced.

Loop

Loop is an initiative launched by TerraCycle in 2019 that takes reusable containers we typically throw out – things like mayonnaise containers and Tide detergent containers – and gives them back to the manufacturer to be refilled and sold back into the consumer base. This is a great example of a recycling process that reduces what households are putting into the waste stream.

Pyrowave styrofoam recycling

Pyrowave, in addition to recycling plastics, has a chemical process by which to break down styrofoam and remanufacture it into new styrofoam. The polystyrene molecules break down via microwave-like technology, resulting in styrene which can then be chemically processed and returned in polystyrene form. Considering how more than four fifths of the styrofoam we use in Canada ends up in our landfills, this is an ideal solution to cut down on yet another source of waste.

This is just a little insight into where recycling technologies are at in the first half of 2020. Development continues to speed up on creating products made entirely from recyclables in addition to finding ways to recycle what was formerly thought of as impossible to recycle. For the first time in over a century, a true zero waste society here in Canada seems very possible. Core Mini Bins supports sustainable waste disposal practices, focusing on recycle, refuse, and landfill diversion. Don’t hesitate to speak with one of our representatives for waste disposal, dumpster rentals, junk removal, and waste management services.

Recycling in Toronto has made great strides, as an industry, in the past decade. Even so, ‘dirty recycling’ is still very much a prominent theme at sorting facilities across the GTA. If recycling numbers are to rise to where we need them to be in the coming years, dirty recycling as a phenomenon is something that we’re going to have to acknowledge and resolve.

What is dirty recycling?

If recycling is to be processed and re-manufactured into recycled materials, it must be sorted, cleaned and void of any contaminants. So let’s say, you take your Toronto blue recycling bin, piling it beautifully with recyclables. If the materials themselves aren’t clean enough to make something from, the entire bin can be disregarded as ‘contaminated’ and is then sent to the landfill. Defining ‘dirty recycling’, it’s all in the name.

What is the goal of recycling?

We think of recycling as a means of helping the planet. The goal of the recycling industry is to make money from waste – that’s it, for better or for worse. If bales of recycling don’t sell, they’re sent to the landfill and are good as garbage even if the material itself isn’t waste.

Why does dirty recycling happen?

Dirty recycling in Toronto is most often unintentional, due to a lack of education on what is recyclable in the GTA. We all live busy lives. Few take the time to review every year what’s recyclable. Instead, we make assumptions. Alternatively, when throwing out recyclables, we don’t always take the time to rinse out glass or plastic containers, or to verify that what we’re tossing is recyclable, and/or check the pizza box for grease stains.

What is the biggest contaminant in recycling?

The top contaminant in recycling is food. Even a little peanut butter inside the container’s a problem. If you put this type of thing into recycling, it will not only affect all the materials in its bin but it could impact tonnes of materials. Some estimates suggest that as much as 26-35% of recyclables contain some sort of contaminant – usually food – in them which reduces the value of what’s being processed.

What is Toronto’s recycling contamination rate?

According to a recent CBC investigation, of all major cities in Canada, Toronto has the worst recycling contamination rate. The city with the best recycling contamination rate is St. John’s, Newfoundland, only 3 percent. Here is a quick list of the top 10 worst city contamination rates.

 10 – St. John’s (3%)  9 – Vancouver (4.6%)  8 – Ottawa (5%)  7 – Regina (11%)  6 – Winnipeg (13%)  5 – Calgary (13%)  4 – Fredericton (14%)  3 – Halifax (21%)  2 – Edmonton (24%)  1 – Toronto (26%)

Should Toronto have separate recycling bins?

One possible strategy to cut down on dirty recycling and increase recycling efficiencies are to utilize multiple bins. In Vancouver, they have a bin for glass separate from other recycling materials. The city also requires citizens to separate paper, cardboard, and containers. Here in Toronto everything goes into one bin. It then gets separated at the waste management processing facility. Single-stream recycling programs like Toronto always boast the highest contamination rates, according to industry experts. It isn’t unreasonable to think in the coming decade, the GTA may have to really examine how its single-bin recycling pick-up impacts efficiencies.

How much does it cost to process dirty recycling?

With dirty recycling, you’re essentially paying twice to process it – the first at the recycling plant and the second as it gets processed at another facility to be put into a landfill. In Toronto, one must also factor in the cost of everything that contaminated recycling comes in contact with which reduces recyclables to low-value waste. Though Toronto’s contract with waste management stakeholders, contamination can result in additional surcharges as well. Some estimates suggest that there’s $1,000,000s to be saved every year in waste collection if the city were to conquer its contamination problem.

Is dirty recycling getting worse?

Dirty recycling has been on the increase these past few years due to countries like China increasing regulation on what waste and recycling they accept. China, for example, now accepts recycled paper with 0.5 percent contamination or less. Before, Canada could send recycled paper with coffee stains and all sorts of expected contaminants to China, and not answer for it. These days, you can’t do that. So this means a piece of paper with a coffee stain unfortunately is now waste and non-recyclable.

Is Vancouver better than Toronto at recycling?

With dirty recycling and cross-contamination rates, Vancouver is so much better than Toronto because of how the city’s structured its recycling program. Cities like Vancouver use strategies such as not accepting glass or styrofoam which break into tiny, tiny pieces that act as contaminants, to increase value on their recyclables.

Is Ontario making recycling more difficult for Toronto?

Toronto receives a lot of people moving in every year – some from other areas of Ontario. The province’s municipalities each carry their own rules of what’s allowed and not allowed in their recycling bins – just like the rest of Canada. This means there’s a percentage of Torontonians probably with the best of intentions who are unknowingly contaminating their recycling by including materials that the GTA does not accept. In Ontario, there’s an initiative known as ‘producer-responsibility’ which makes producers responsible for managing any and all waste generated from their products. This same sort of program is successfully managed in BC. It is expected, in the years to come, the province will adopt a more clear recycling standard.

What is the best way to recycle in Toronto?

The best way to recycle is to reduce, reuse, and replace single-use items that are populating streams of waste recyclable and non-recyclable alike. Instead of accepting single-use takeout containers for restaurant food, bring your own. Buy reusable straws, reusable water bottles, reusable sandwich bags, and more. Never use plastic grocery bags and always shop with a reusable. These simple choices cut down on waste and recycling which will help to keep our Toronto strong, clean, healthy, and efficient.

Waste disposal, management, and sorting mean the world to us at Core Mini Bins. Anything recyclable is recycled and we do our best to keep contamination to a minimum. If you’re a corporate office, small business, homeowner, or construction contractor looking to better control their waste, contact a representative at Core Mini Bins today.

Why People Use Junk Removal Services in Toronto

7 days a week, 365 days a year, you can find Core Mini Bins somewhere out there in Toronto providing junk removal services or a dumpster rental to someone. We help everyone from university students to seniors dispose of waste and move furniture in easy, affordable trips.

If you’ve never used junk removal services before in the GTA, you’ve probably seen them advertised almost everywhere. A variety of companies offer junk removal – some better than others. Here are the top reasons why people use junk removal services in Toronto!

1 – It’s spring cleaning time!

Every spring, we see an uptick in requests for junk removal. That’s because it’s the season of growth, renewal, and doing away with the things holding you back. Homeowners cleaning out their garages and condo owners clearing away what’s in their storage units, junk removal’s a popular option between the increasingly warmer temperatures of March through June.

2 – Homeowner renovation help

A junk removal service helps remove renovation waste or DIY construction materials no longer needed. If you’ve got a driveway or space with a lot of debris that needs to be gone, the recommendation would be to rent a dumpster. If you’re beyond that point though, a junk removal’s oftentimes at a similar cost and will work just as well at helping you move contents ranging from general demolition waste to pieces of sheds, patios, and more.

3 – You’re downsizing and moving to a new residence

A big reason why we get called for junk removal services is because you’re about to downsize. Moving between condos, apartments, or homes is challenging enough without trying to find transportation for the things you can’t bring with you.

4 – You don’t have the transportation

A lot of us have old furniture taking up space in our homes. We’d love to move them. We just haven’t. There are a wide array of places that can recycle and repurpose old furniture. A junk removal services gives you transportation that’s affordable to get your old furniture out and in ownership of someone who will do something with it!

5 – You just bought some new furniture

If you’ve recently bought a new couch, mattress, bed, or similarly large item, we oftentimes receive the call to take the old furniture out. In the case of older furniture, this can often be donated to local charity organizations or repurposed. Things like couches, mattresses, chairs, kitchen tables, and dressers still have value to them, and there’s no reason to toss them into a landfill.

6 – You don’t want to have to deal with stuff

There’s any number of situations one might find themselves in – such as with old roommates – where you want stuff gone so you don’t have to deal with it. Junk removal is all about easy, affordable ways to get items out of your space and gone. There’s a lot of peace of mind in delegating responsibilities to a junk removal company. For those that want to save themselves time, money, and effort, this is an option not to be forgotten.

7 – You’re a landlord

Toronto is a city filled with landlords needing junk removal services to help clear out furniture, materials, and bulky items left behind by old tenants. We also see many landlords regularly contact junk removal services to help clear out old kitchen appliances – such as fridges, ovens, and dishwashers – as they upgrade and renovate older units. No matter what it is, when you contact a company like Core Mini Bins, we will get down there on time and get working.

8 – You’re a business

Many corporate offices, small businesses shutting down, or companies up and moving to new locations use junk removal services. You also have new offices moving into older spaces with equipment left behind. In these situations, you could end up with literally hundreds of heavy computers, tables, and equipment that needs to be shipped off elsewhere. Trying to arrange it yourself can be tough. Calling a junk removal service, you tap into their connections around Toronto and setting up pick-up, you can move what you don’t want out of there in no time.

9 – You’re a senior or a disabled person

There are a few demographics of Torontonians who don’t have the physical resources to safely remove large bulky furniture and other items. Seniors don’t oftentimes want to chance an injury. Disabled persons often find themselves in the same boat. It is much easier and far less risky to assign the responsibility to a Toronto junk removal professional with experience helping seniors or disabled persons.

10 – To make a charity donation

Large household furnishings, kitchen appliances, and electronics are sought after by charity organizations. They can often fix them up, sell them, and turn a profit on that which evidently is something that gets put back into your local community. Donating what you’re not using to charity is a kind but sometimes difficult move to make. When you need transportation and/or guidance on how to get your items to your favourite charity, a junk removal service can be very helpful.

11 – You need the space

A Marie Condo-style decluttering isn’t such a bad idea. Clean, open living spaces inevitably become packed in with all sorts of furniture and things you just need some place to put. Other times, you just need the space. Maybe you’re building a guest room, a nursery, or a new hobby space. Any time you are clearing out a room, and need the materials in there up and gone, a reliable junk removal services goes a long way in accomplishing that goal.

Why should I hire a junk removal company?

If you want to do something smart with your waste, a reliable junk removal company in Toronto works. At Core Mini Bins, we offer junk removal, dumpsters, mini bin rentals, and more. We collaborate with residential, commercial, and industrial clients all over the GTA. Everyone eventually ends up with waste they need moved. Junk removal is quick, convenient, and responsible. Anything that we can recycle we absolutely will! If you want something donated, share where and we’ll ensure it gets there.

The city only takes bulky furniture at certain times of year. Dropping off garbage at select locations, it’s challenging to arrange. Almost anything, we’ll take in our trucks and get it sorted, handled, and properly managed. Contact a junk removal service in Toronto you know and trust. Call Core Mini Bins today.

Preparing a construction site for maximum efficiency and safety involves having a waste management plan in place. Most of the time, that’s a dumpster rental or mini bin rental. Considered a necessity, a dumpster on a construction site gathers waste, keeping it from remaining on the ground, exposed and dangerous. If you aren’t yet convinced you need a dumpster rental for your construction site, here’s some food for thought.

Can I keep costs down by managing my own construction waste?

As an alternative to renting a dumpster, some construction contractors may choose to self-manage waste. This rarely proves to be fruitful, especially in terms of cost. Problems inevitably come about. Disposal and landfill costs may prove to be higher than expected, oftentimes construction sites accumulate more waste than what a project manager may initially predict, transportation arrangements can fall through, and you don’t have the support of a waste management expert there to help coordinate and lead you through these very common issues. Saving on cost may be the motivation however rather quickly, you may find costs exceed estimates.

How does a dumpster rental make a construction project easier?

A dumpster rental establishes a process by which you can collect and dispose of waste. One doesn’t have to organize waste management themselves or arrange for disposal on their own dime. When you select a dumpster rental company to partner with on your construction site, management of your waste gets so much easier. With a rental, they drop it off, pick it up, and everything’s taken care of. As a construction contractor, you get the opportunity to put your concentration towards the project – not on the waste.

Can too much waste interrupt construction?

In extreme cases, without a place to put your construction waste, it will get in the way of proceeding with a project. There’s no excuse to have a mess on your work site. A contractor wouldn’t leave their tools strewn about and so, why would one tolerate the same with waste – hopefully, they wouldn’t. Too much waste – which is any waste that isn’t controlled – will stall workflow and make movement around a site very difficult.

Why are construction site waste management plans so chaotic?

Construction contractors are tasked with building up, not cleaning what’s around them. It’s satisfying watching a project come together but it’s inconvenient not knowing what to do with waste that inevitably gets produced. When a site gets dirty, you need a place to put your garbage. A dumpster organizes some of the chaos, keeping all trash in the same place. A company servicing a construction site with dumpster rentals will come and pick up waste, minimizing the effort you need to put forward to keep a site organized.

Is not having a dumpster on a construction site a safety concern for employees?

One of the biggest reasons to arrange a dumpster rental for a construction site is to minimize hazards and safety risks to employees. A site that isn’t with a waste disposal plan is more likely to encounter accidents. Contractors, employees, and stakeholders should be able to move smoothly around a construction site. Hallways, roadways, and rooms should be clear. Handle obstructions with ease. Eliminate the mountains of waste we create in construction almost instantly. Clear out waste, move it, and keep it in a disposal bin ready to be picked up.

Is it eco-friendly having a dumpster rental on a construction site?

An eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable dumpster rental protects waste and trash from getting into the environment. If you’re worried about wind carrying waste, non-contractors removing waste, or contamination of the environment around them, an eco-friendly move to make is a mini bin or dumpster rental. This won’t be the case on all projects but on some, your created waste can be very environmentally damaging. Proper management of it can save yourself a bad environmental record and potential fines.

Will a dumpster rental increase my productivity on a construction?

We underestimate the difference a clean work site makes to construction efficiency. With a dumpster rental, you can collect waste and keep on schedule. All you have to do is move any waste to the bin. There, it’s collected and – as the saying goes – is out of sight, out of mind. Be it residential, commercial, or industrial work sites, they’re all working on limited time. Comparing projects where there’s no defined waste collection plan to projects where there is, you see the significant impact a dumpster can make.

What kind of dumpster do I need for my construction site?

To rent the right dumpster for your construction, estimate how much waste you will need to manage and the frequency of pick-ups. After you have your estimates, one can choose the correct sized dumpster size for your needs. You may choose to have only one or multiple dumpsters. For most projects, only a single dumpster will be necessary.

Should I get a larger sized dumpster or a smaller sized dumpster for construction?

We always say, if you have to ask yourself the question then you probably need a larger size. Dumpster rentals come with limits on weight and height. Exceed those and costs creep up. Primarily for safety reasons, you don’t want to overfill your dumpster. If you suspect capacity guidelines are going to be exceeded, you will have to make the call on either ordering up to a larger size or going with a second dumpster. Your dumpster rental service may be able to make suggestions on other cost-effective options as well.

Are there limits on what I can put into a dumpster for construction?

Like any sort of waste management system, there’s a guide on what can and cannot be inside. Disposal bins can include any number of landfill-friendly construction and renovation materials however shouldn’t include hazardous materials like paints, automotive chemicals, batteries, pesticides, asbestos, or similar items. If you suspect there are hazardous materials included in whatever waste you are handling, it’s integral to connect with your dumpster rental service. Including hazardous materials or chemicals in along with recyclable materials will cross-contaminate everything in the dumpster and render it useless, in addition to potentially resulting in a clean-up which increase costs.

Construction sites using dumpster rentals are keeping the site, their people, and their immediate surroundings safe. If you haven’t already, book your dumpster rental today with Core Mini Bins.