PUSLINCH - The Township of Puslinch voted Wednesday in favour of directing staff to implement a public spaces recycling program funded by Nestlé Waters Canada.
The project, designed by environmental consulting company Reclay StewardEdge, will see new dual recycling bins in public spaces beginning in April.
The decision came following a delegation led by Andreanne Simard, natural resource manager for Nestlé Waters Canada, and Ken Friesen, president of Reclay StewardEdge.
According to a press release, Nestlé Waters Canada is contributing $50,000 to implement with no additional cost anticipated from the township. The bins will be placed indoors and outdoors at public spaces such as arenas, parks or trails. Collection will be part of the county’s regular scheduled pick-up.
Simard is local to the area and identified this need for the township.
“I frequent the community centre activities and I noticed there was a need for infrastructure,” Simard said. “I flagged it to the company and we stepped up to the plate.”
In council, Friesen said 70 per cent of beverages are consumed away from home hence the need for improved public space recycling. Another aspect of the program is to use the convenience of the bins to improve recycling rates.
Similar projects have been executed in other municipalities country-wide including the Town of Erin.
Friesen said the recycling rate in Erin increased from 74 to 87 per cent.
“We are working with a variety of other companies in a variety of places to enhance public space recycling,” Friesen said. “Public space recycling is a need across Canada, not only here.”
Puslinch Mayor James Seeley praised the program in council as a good opportunity to improve sorting in the region.
“We are very pleased that Nestlé Waters Canada has brought such an innovative public-space recycling program with a proven track record of increasing recycling rates to Puslinch,” Seeley said in a press release.
After the April bin placements, an education campaign will kick-off in May with a waste audit and final report expected in June and September respectively.
