CartSmart program shows residents need recycling refinements

It would appear many Regina residents still don’t know what should go into their blue recycling bins.

On Friday, the City released the results of the CartSmart program it ran in the fall.

According to the City, inspectors checked more than 2,000 blue bins over the course of the program — and 72 per cent of the bins contained things that shouldn’t have been there.

Each of those bins got an “Oops” tag. When they were rechecked later, only 36 per cent of them showed improvement.

Inspectors left “Good Job” stickers on just 28 per cent of the bins they inspected.

“Residents have told us that they would recycle more if they were more confident about what can and can’t go in the recycling cart. Residents were very receptive to the program and eager to learn,” Pat Wilson, the city’s director of water, waste and environmental services, said in a media release.

“The program was very successful recognizing good recycling behaviour and educating residents about items that don’t belong in the blue cart.”

The City said plastic bags and plastic wraps led the way among items that shouldn’t have been recycled. Those things were found in 44 per cent of the bins that were checked.

Among the other things found in the bins that didn’t belong were chip bags, zipper pouches, food containers, plastic coat hangers, styrofoam packaging, paper towels, napkins and waxed paper cups.

The City reminded residents to keep recyclables loose in the bins, to not stack items, to rinse out items before putting them in bins, and to keep carts from overflowing.

The CartSmart team is to return next year.

More information can be found here.