"Recycling Plus" by The Beer Store makes it easier to do the right thing in Toronto
The Beer Store, in cooperation with Stewardship Ontario and Sims Recycling Solutions, offers a one-stop drop off for empty alcohol containers, paint, batteries and household electronics
Recycling Plus by the Beer Store (Recycling Plus) is a pilot project designed to increase the recycling and reuse of a wide range of consumer products. The collection facility, located in Toronto's west end, was unveiled today by Ontario's Minister of the Environment, Jim Bradley.
Recycling Plus, open 7 days a week, is a one-stop shop where consumers can offload a wide range of obsolete electronics, batteries and paint (see complete list in backgrounder) while returning their empty beer, wine, spirit and cooler containers. The project is done in cooperation with two partners. Stewardship Ontario, through its Orange Drop Program, will oversee the collection and safe processing of batteries, paints, stains, and coatings and Sims Recycling Solutions will process the returned Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE).
This integrated approach is an evolution of The Beer Store's deposit return programs to make returns easier for business owners and consumers with high volumes of beer and liquor containers.
Speaking at the February ribbon cutting ceremony, Ted Moroz, President of The Beer Store, said, "The Beer Store is proud of our long-standing environmental program, which now recovers over 90% of all beer and over 80% of all wine, spirit and cooler containers, amounting to over 480,000 tonnes of packaging a year diverted from Ontario landfills. It's a part of our business and a part of our values."
Moroz continued, "We were eager to use our expertise to allow for increased waste diversion in other industries, while at the same time making it more convenient for our customers to return their empties. I would like to acknowledge our staff who are already engaged in our successful reuse and recycling programs and were eager to embrace the pilot project."
After being introduced by Mr. Moroz, Minister Bradley stated, "Ensuring that waste is collected and managed properly is vital to keeping our land and water clean. So it is great to have a facility like this: a true one-stop shop where waste-conscious Ontarians can bring their bottles, paint, batteries, and electronics. I applaud The Beer Store's integrated approach to recycling which is a first for Ontario."
Lyle Clarke, Executive Vice President of Stewardship Ontario, noted, "Since the Orange Drop Program launched in 2008, over 72,000 tonnes of household hazardous waste has been diverted from landfills and waterways in Ontario. We are excited to further expand our program by partnering in the Recycling Plus pilot to collect batteries and paint, and ensure that even more waste is diverted from landfill and recycled."
Cindy Coutts, President of Sims Recycling Solutions Canada, reminded attendees that Ontario, home to 39% of Canada's population, has a mandated Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) recycling program. Sims estimates that there is an opportunity to recover, reuse and recycle approximately 75,000 metric tonnes per year of WEEE in Ontario alone.
Ms. Coutts said, "Sims is thrilled to have the opportunity to responsibly recycle electronics collected at Recycling Plus at the world's most technologically advanced WEEE processing facility, just up the road in Mississauga."
The Recycling Plus by The Beer Store pilot was officially opened, February 15 (2013) by The Beer Store staff and the Minister of the Environment, with representatives of the Toronto Environment Alliance returning a box of old computer parts, paint and beer bottles through a green ribbon for sorting and delivery to the recycling partners.
