Your garbage’s journey is just beginning when it
disappears from your curb. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the
contents of your Blue Box and Green Bin, an event on Saturday, Sept. 26
will open the lid on this mystery.
The idea behind the Recycling and Composting Plant Open House is to
let everyone know about the process as well as the end result of their
efforts. What’s the point of sorting and composting? Does it actually
make a difference?
The City of Hamilton will be answering those questions with a
behind-the-scenes adventure at its Recycling and Composting Plant at 1579
Burlington Street East anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., rain or
shine. Dennis Guy, project manager with the City, is hoping that more
than 1000 Hamiltonians will drop in. He admits that people are curious
about the composting and recycling process since they’re not usually
allowed into the plant for safety reasons.
In addition to seeing how
their trash is treated, there will be samples of products created from
recycled materials including fleece clothing. Visitors will see that
given time and some mechanical interventions, food waste becomes dark
earthy compost. A line up of “mighty machines” including loaders, dump
trucks and recycling trucks will also be performing.
According to Guy, the event gives residents as chance to “ask their
personal questions and get personal, customized answers in return.
There are always questions about which plastics can and can’t be thrown
in blue boxes”. He suggests that visitors wear closed-toe flat-soled
shoes. All aspects of the tour are accessible except for one small
section with some stairs that lead to an area that provides a view to a
part of the recycling sorting line.
Open House participants will have a chance to support Food Share
Hamilton through a charity barbecue. With the support of its sponsor,
the food bank receives $10 for each dollar raised at the event. Not
only is this a great way to benefit a worthy charity, Guy says it’s an
interesting connection between food and food waste collection. A
further connection is that the compost is given away each spring in
return for a donation to Food Share.
There will be a covered area with tables to eat and rest at, and
local transit buses to shuttle visitors to and from the facilities on
site. Visitors should not be concerned about unpleasant odours at the
plants, the most they’ll smell is the earthy fragrance of compost, says
Guy.
The tours are held annually and alternate between the landfill site
and the recycling and composting plants. To find out more, email wastemanagement@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-CITY (2489).
