County of Grand Prairie No. 1 Residential Recycling FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When do my blue bags need to go to the curb?
Blue bags must be put out on your curbside by 7:00 am on your collection day. Please keep in mind that separate collection vehicles pick up curbside recyclable and garbage.
Can I use clear bag instead of blue bags?
Blue bags must be used for curbside blue bag recycling. The blue bags are specified by our curbside recycling contractor as a way to properly distinguish between garbage and recycling. Also, the blue bags are made of a uniform, high quality plastic that is recyclable. Clear plastic bags are not made out of the same plastic as blue bags and therefore cannot be recycled as easily or even at all.
Where can I get blue bags?
Blue bags can be purchased from any grocery store, hardware store or drug store that sells garbage bags.
Is there a limit as to the number of blue bags that can be put out each week?
There is no limit to the number of blue bags put out for pick up.
What about glass?
Glass is (at this time) not accepted at curbside and must be placed into regular garbage collection.
Why can't I put plastic bags (one time use bags) or other film such as plastic wrap into my blue bags?
Most food-grade hard plastics displaying #1 through #7 are now accepted in the blue bag program. Examples of hard plastic containers include: margarine, ice cream, ketchup, muffin/cake, yogurt, peanut butter, and slushy cups. In general, only Styrofoam (#6 PS) and plastic film (some #4) will not be accepted.
PLASTICS CODING #1-7
To help plastic recycling, each plastic container has a code on the bottom surface. The code or number is enclosed by a triangular shape symbol with three arrows. Coding and common uses are as follows.
Plastic Types
Symbol
Name
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)
Common Uses
Accepted in blue bag - Plastic soft drink, sports drink and water bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter, salad dressing containers, berry boxes and cake domes
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Accepted in blue bag - Milk, water and juice containers, liquid detergent bottles, laundry soap containers, ice cream containers, yogurt and margarine tubs
Vinyl (V)
Accepted in blue bag - Shampoo bottles and vegetable oil bottles with handles. Not accepted in blue bag - Clear food packaging
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Accepted in blue bag - Carry-out snacks, squeezable bottles (i.e. honey, mustard). Not accepted in blue bag - Bread bags, frozen food bags, dry cleaning bags
Polypropylene (PP)
Accepted in blue bag - Yogurt containers and margarine tubs
Polystyrene
Accepted in blue bag - Compact disc cases, aspirin bottles, plant pots
Other
Accepted in blue bag - Some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, some flexible packaging for items like bacon and cheese
Adapted from the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC)
What about corrugated cardboard?
You can place smaller pieces of cardboard inside your blue bag. For larger pieces of cardboard, simply collapse and fold beneath the blue bag - no larger than 2ft. by 3ft. (60cm x 90cm) so operators can put them in the recycling truck easily.
Can I leave the labels on the tin/metal cans?
Yes, you are now able to leave the labels on the tin cans, however, please ensure cans are clean.
What is contamination?
Contamination is when unacceptable material is placed in the blue bag. Any recyclables that are comingled with garbage, pet waste, organics, soft plastics, or disposable diapers are contaminated and not recycled. Unwashed recyclables are also considered to be contaminated. Contamination increases the program cost and ultimately the cost to the resident.
Contamination of one bag - if bad enough - can result in an entire truck load of recyclable going to landfill. This is why we are strict, and will reject contaminated bags.
Do I need to wash the plastic and metal containers?
Yes! Help reduce contamination by washing containers. This will help reduce odor, flies and rodents. It is easiest to rinse containers the moment you empty them, usually with a quick rinse under the tap. Alternatively, you can soak in water and rinse or even wash in a dishwasher.
Beaverlodge Residential Recycling
Prairie Disposal Ltd is excited about our new working partnership with the Town of Beaverlodge, as Beaverlodge is the first town in the North Peace Region to have a complete fully automated curbside collection program. We are looking forward to working with the residents of Beaverlodge, and hope to improve on all your collection needs. Below is a list of some of the more frequently asked questions pertaining to the curbside Residential Recycling Collection. Click here for questions pertaining to Residential Garbage Collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my recyclables collected?
Recyclables collection shall occur once per week on Monday mornings with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day, unless notified with notice from Prairie Disposal Ltd.
Paper will be collected every other week on Mondays.
Plastic and tin will be collected every other week on Mondays.
(Collection Starts April 12, 2010 – Please have your Plastic and Tin set out at the Curb)
Residential Units:
Please have your recyclables out by 7:30 a.m., otherwise you risk missing collection.
Business Units:
Please have your recyclables out by 9:00 a.m., otherwise you risk missing collection.
Is there a limit?
Yes, a limit has been set in place.
Paper Recycling
Each residential/business unit will be given a blue 64 gallon container.
Plastic & Tin
Each residential/business unit will be given a green 64 gallon container.
If you accumulate more recyclables then what is allowed on any given week, you may purchase “Bag Tags” from the Town Of Beaverlodge office for an additional $2.00 per bag. Only extra bags that have this sticker on them will be taken.
For more information call (780) 539-5950.
What kind of “container” should I use?
Residents and businesses will be provided with containers by Prairie Disposal Ltd.
The collector missed my house.
Sorry about that. Please call (780) 539-5950.
What can I put in the containers?
Blue container is for mixed paper:
-
Newspapers
-
Magazines
-
Catalogues
-
Envelopes
-
Office paper
-
Junk mail
-
Phone books
-
Brochures
-
Glossy flyers
-
Paper labels
-
Gift wrap
Construction paper and carbon paper are not recyclable.
Green container is for plastic and tin:
Plastics:
Only plastics with the numbers #1, #2, #4 or #5 are accepted
If the plastic item does not have a number on it or is not one of the numbers above, it goes in the garbage not the recycling.
Only plastic bags and containers numbered with a 1, 2, 4 or 5 can be recycled. The number can be found in a recycling triangle, often on the bottom of the container.
It is very important when recycling to separate the different kinds of plastics. To ensure your items are recycled, please include accepted plastics.
Lids are often made from a different kind of plastic than the rest of the container. If a lid is not labeled with a 1, 2, 4 or 5, it is not recyclable.
Any contamination (wrong type of or non numbered plastics) can cause a whole load of plastics to be sent to the landfill instead of being recycled.
Tin:
-
Tin
-
Aluminum
-
Steel food and beverage containers
-
Tin cans
-
Foil trays
-
Pie plates
-
Foil wrap
-
Jar lids
Please rinse containers and remove labels (paper labels can be recycled with office paper).
If you’re still not sure what can be recycled or should be thrown away, please contact Prairie Disposal Ltd at (780) 539-5950.
Where should I put my recycling container on collection day?
If you have front street collection:
-
Place your garbage container at the curb
-
If you park on the street, remember to park your vehicle in your driveway
-
If there’s road construction, put your waste where it is accessible
If your collection is in your rear lane:
-
Place garbage within 3 metres (10 feet) of the rear lane
-
Ensure the waste cans are easily accessible
-
If there is construction in the lane, place your waste at the front curb
Collectors would rather residents not build container enclosures. Enclosures can sometimes impede their progress. Collection on front streets, for example, where there are no enclosures, is much more efficient than it is in lanes.
Fairview Residential Recycling
Prairie Disposal Ltd is excited about our new working partnership with the Town of Fairview. We are looking forward to working with the residents of Fairview, and we hope to improve on all of your collection needs. Below is a list of some of the more frequently asked questions retaining to the Curbside Residential Recycling Collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are my recyclables collected?
Recyclables collection shall occur once per week on Friday mornings with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day, unless notified with notice from Prairie Disposal Ltd
Paper and cardboard will be collected every other week on Thursdays.
Plastic and tin will be collected every other week on Thursdays.
Please have your recyclables out by 8:00 a.m.; otherwise you risk missing collection.
Collection will begin April 1, 2010 for the Town of Fairview; the program will begin with the collection of plastic and tin.
A calendar will be mailed out in the monthly newsletter “Talk of the Town” to all residents to help remind them which day there paper and cardboard or plastic and tin is being picked up.
Is there a limit?
Yes, a limit has been set in place.
Fairview Residents will be allowed three (3) 67 liter blue bags per week.
(Blue bags are sold at the local Fairview Freson IGA & Super A grocery stores.)
For more information call (780) 835-5950.
What type of bag should I use?
Blue bags must be used for curbside blue bag recycling. The blue bags are specified by our curbside recycling contractor as a way to properly distinguish between garbage and recycling. Also, the blue bags are made of a uniform, high quality plastic that is recyclable. Clear plastic bags are not made out of the same plastic as blue bags and therefore cannot be recycled as easily or even at all.
The collector missed my house.
Sorry about that. Please call (780) 835-5950.
What can I put in the blue bags?
Mixed paper:
-
Newspapers
-
Magazines
-
Catalogues
-
Envelopes
-
Office paper
-
Junk mail
-
Phone books
-
Brochures
-
Glossy flyers
-
Paper labels
-
Paper labels
-
Gift wrap
-
Flattened corrugated cardboard boxes
-
Flattened cereal and food boxes (remove and discard liner)
-
Juice boxes
-
Milk cartons (rinse with cold water and flatten)
-
Flattened shoe boxes and brown paper bags
Construction paper and carbon paper are not recyclable.
What types of plastics are accepted in the program?
Most food-grade hard plastics displaying # 1 through #7 are now accepted in the blue bag program. Examples of hard plastic containers include: margarine, ice cream, ketchup, muffin/cake, yogurt, peanut butter, and slushy cups. In general, only Styrofoam (#6 PS) and plastic film (some # 4) will not be accepted.
PLASTICS CODING #1-7
To help plastic recycling, each plastic container has a code on the bottom surface. The code or number is enclosed by a triangular shape symbol with three arrows. Coding and common uses are as follows.
Plastic Types
Symbol
Name
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)
Common Uses
Accepted in blue bag - Plastic soft drink, sports drink and water bottles, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter, salad dressing containers, berry boxes and cake domes
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Accepted in blue bag - Milk, water and juice containers, liquid detergent bottles, laundry soap containers, ice cream containers, yogurt and margarine tubs
Vinyl (V)
Accepted in blue bag - Shampoo bottles and vegetable oil bottles with handles. Not accepted in blue bag - Clear food packaging
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Accepted in blue bag - Carry-out snacks, squeezable bottles (i.e. honey, mustard). Not accepted in blue bag - Bread bags, frozen food bags, dry cleaning bags
Polypropylene (PP)
Accepted in blue bag - Yogurt containers and margarine tubs
Polystyrene
Accepted in blue bag - Compact disc cases, aspirin bottles, plant pots
Other
Accepted in blue bag - Some citrus juice and ketchup bottles, some flexible packaging for items like bacon and cheese
What about corrugated cardboard?
You can place smaller pieces of cardboard inside your blue bag. For larger pieces of cardboard, simply collapse and fold beneath the blue bag - no larger than 2ft. by 3ft. (60cm x 90cm) so operators can put them in the recycling truck easily.
Can I leave the labels on the tin/metal cans?
Yes, you are now able to leave the labels on the tin cans, however, please ensure cans are clean.
What is contamination?
Contamination is when unacceptable material is placed in the blue bag. Any recyclables that are comingled with garbage, pet waste, organics, soft plastics, or disposable diapers are contaminated and not recycled. Unwashed recyclables are also considered to be contaminated. Contamination increases the program cost and ultimately the cost to the resident.
Contamination of one bag - if bad enough - can result in an entire truck load of recyclable going to landfill. This is why we are strict, and will reject contaminated bags.
Do I need to wash the plastic and metal containers?
Yes! Help reduce contamination by washing containers. This will help reduce odor, flies and rodents. It is easiest to rinse containers the moment you empty them, usually with a quick rinse under the tap. Alternatively, you can soak in water and rinse or even wash in a dishwasher.
Where should I put my recycling container on collection day?
If you have front street collection:
-
Place your garbage container at the curb
-
If you park on the street, remember to park your vehicle in your driveway
-
If there’s road construction, put your waste where it is accessible
If your collection is in your rear lane:
-
Place garbage within 3 metres (10 feet) of the rear lane
-
Ensure the waste cans are easily accessible
-
If there is construction in the lane, place your waste at the front curb
