There is one issue that hasn’t received much play during this civic election campaign and I couldn’t help but think about it this weekend.
As I struggled repeatedly to shove my cardboard recycling into one of the bins at the Civic Centre, it became clear that the people of Moose Jaw want to recycle or else the bins wouldn’t be full.
As well, some people are willing to pay recycling companies from Regina to come pick up their various recycling.
So, this prompts a serious question: Why is it the City of Moose Jaw doesn’t want its citizens to recycle?
I can already hear the squawking from the city about how it advertises various recycling opportunities on its website and it has the bins on both North and South Hills
But just because it recycles doesn’t mean it encourages recycling.
The city does not encourage recycling because it does not empty out the bins on a regular basis to ensure people are always able to recycle,
It also fails to encourage recycling by not having bins for other items that can be recycled, such as plastic jugs, coloured bottles, egg cartons, etc. As well, there is no composting program either.
So if the city isn’t encouraging recycling, then it is discouraging recycling in Moose Jaw, plain and simple.
While I’m not surprised recycling hasn’t received a big push in this election — recycling just isn’t sexy — I still think it needs to be addressed.
City-sponsored blue box and composting programs are not new to this country.
Kitchener, Ont., the home of the blue box program, has been doing home recycling pick up for more than 28 years, so this isn’t a new concept.
Maybe the city needs to assist a non-profit organization that could operate a depot for recycling all manner of goods. Or, the city could explore the possibility of helping SARCAN expand its services to take in a greater variety of materials.
There is a huge amount of materials that could be recycled in this city but are not because of a lack of resources. If the city was to do something to encourage recycling, it would also reduce the use of the landfill, which is not a bad thing.
The people of this city would most likely take advantage of improved recycling, whether it be through more bins for a greater variety items at the drop-off stations, or through a city-sponsored pick up of recyclables and/or compost.
As being green becomes more commonplace in this country, it just makes sense this city move towards an improved recycling program.
Hopefully this will be something raised, if not during the remaining days of this campaign, then by the new mayor and council.
Jason Small can be reached at 691-1255.
